FIELDBOOK 


FRANK  E.  LUTZ 


LIBRARY     OF 


885_IQ56 


Plate  I 


Papilio  cresphonle^) 


-* 


FIELD  BOOK  OF 
INSECTS 


with  special  reference  to 
those  of  northeastern 
united  states,  aiming  to 
answer  common  questions 

By    frank    E.    LUTZ,    Ph.D, 


CURATOR,   DEPARTMENT    OF    ENTOMOLOGY, 
AMERICAN   MUSEUM   OF   NATURAL  HISTORY 


Second  Edition,  Revised  and  Enlarged 
With  about  800  Illustrations ,  Many  in  Color 


mm 


G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS 
NEW   YORK  AND    LONDON 

ITbe  1kntcfterboc??er  press 


Copyright,  191 8 

BY 

FRANK  E.  LUTZ 
Copyright,  192  i 

BY 

FRANK  E.  LUTZ 


The  Study  of  entomology  is  one  of  the  most  fascinating 
of  pursuits.  It  takes  its  votaries  into  the  treasure-house! 
ot  iNature  and  explains  some  of  the  wonderful  series  of 
links  which  form  the  great  chain  of  creation.  It  lays  open 
before  us  another  worid,  of  which  we  have  been  hitherto 
J!^rT.T.??i;'vT^^  '^""^^  "f  ^^^^  ^^^  ^^'^^^  insect,  so  smaU 
work  to  Hn^^n  .vf  ''''^\i^^  eye  can  scarcely  see  it,  has  its 
worli  to  do  in  the  world,  and  does  it. 


Rev.  J.  G.  Wood. 


Made  in  the  United  States  of  America 


PREFACE 

I  am  glad  to  have  this  opportunity  of  thanking 
those  who  have  kindly  responded  to  the  request 
made  on  page  523  for  criticisms  and  suggestions. 
As  far  as  seemed  practicable,  they  have  been 
acted  upon  in  this  edition.  All  typographical 
errors  that  have  been  noticed  in  the  body  of  the 
book  are  now  corrected  and  new  matter  has  been 
put  in  the  appendix.  In  addition  to  short  notes 
on  a  variety  of  subjects,  there  is  an  extensive  key 
for  determining  the  order  to  which  an  insect, 
adult  or  immature,  belongs,  a  key  to  the  fam- 
ilies of  beetles,  another  to  wild  bees,  and  notes 
to  help  in  the  identification  of  caterpillars. 

The  Field  Book  of  Insects  was  intended  for 
individuals,  but  so  many  teachers  have  used  it  in 
their  classes  that  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  indicate 
a  pedagogical  point  of  view  that  influenced  the 
choice  of  material.  Certain  families  or  groups 
of  species  were  selected  in  each  of  the  important 
orders  for  more  detailed  attention  on  the  theory 
that  it  is  well  to  "know  a  little  about  many 
things  and  much  about  a  few."  In  beetles,  for 
example,  a  general  survey  is  given  of  the  order 
and  the  Long-horns  received  an  ''unfair" 
amount  of  space;  in  the  True  Flies  it  is  the 
SyrphidcB  and  the  various  House  Flies;  in 
Hymenoptera   it   is   the   Bumble   Bees;   and  in 

in 


PREFACE. 

Lepidoptera  it  is  the  Butterflies  (exclusive  of 
Skippers)  and  the  Saturnid  Moths.  I  have 
found  that  such  a  combination  of  general  and 
special  study  has  been  very  profitable  and  I  hope 
that  teachers — those  in  regular  classes  as  well  as 
those  in  such  organizations  as  the  Boy  Scouts, 
the  Woodcraft  League,  and  the  Agassiz  Associ- 
ation— may  find  it  equally  so.  The  groups  given 
more  detailed  treatment  were  selected  partly  on 
the  basis  of  general  interest  and  partly  because 
their  study  did  not  involve  technicalities  that 
would  be  likely  to  discourage  the  amateur. 

The  request  for  suggestions  tending  to  make 
the  book  more  interesting  and  more  helpful  to 
you  still  stands  and  is  sincere. 

Frank  E.  Lutz. 


iV 


CONTENTS 


Introduction     .... 

Collecting  and  Preserving  Insects 

The  Control  of  Injurious  Insects 
Chiefly  about  Spiders 
Insects      .... 

The  Most  Primitive  Insects 

May-flies  (Plectoptera)    . 

Dragon-flies  (Odonata)    . 

Stone-flies  (Plecoptera)    . 

Dobson-flies,  etc.  (Megaloptera) 

Ant-lions,  Aphis-lions,  etc.  (Neuroptera) 

Scorpion-flies  (Mecoptera) 

Caddis-flies  (Trichoptera) 

Earwigs  (Dermaptera)     . 

Roaches,  Grasshoppers,  etc.  (Orthoptera) 

White  Ants  (Isoptera)     . 

Book  and  Bark  Lice  (Corrodentia)    . 

Biting  Bird  Lice  (Mallophaga) 

True  Lice  (Siphunculata) 

Thrips  (Thysanoptera)    . 

Cicadas,  etc.  (Homoptera) 

True  Bugs  (Heteroptera) 

Butterflies  and  Moths  (Lepidoptera) 

True  Flies  (Diptera) 

Fleas  (Stcctoria)      .... 

Beetles  (Coleoptera) 

Stylopids  (Strepsiptera)  . 

Wasps,  Bees,  Ants,  etc.  (Hymenoptera) 

Galls    ...... 

Appendix:  Additions  and  Corrections     . 
Index: 

Habitat  and  Plant 

Entomological       .... 


COLORED  ILLUSTRATIONS 

FACING   PAGB 

Plate  I. — Papilio  cresphontes       .  .  Frontispiece 

Plate  X. — Hetarina  americana;  Calcpteryx  maculata; 

Perithemis    domitia;    and    Libellula    pulchella  .       44 

Plate  XVII. — Stagmomantis  Carolina  and  a  Phasmid 

(Manomera)    .......       64 

Plate  XIX. — Dissosteira  Carolina;  Pierophylla 
camellifolia;  Amhlycorypha ohlongifolia;  (Ecanthus; 
and  Panchlora         ......       72 

Plate  XXIII. — Fulgora;  Scolops  stdcipes;  a  young 
cercopid  in  its  "spittle";  Acanalonia  hivittcUa; 
Graphocephala  coccinea;  Ceresa  bubalus  and  its 
egg-scars ;  Thelia  himaculata;  A  rchasia  belfragei; 
Entylia  sinuata;  and  Telamona  ampelopsidis      .       86 

Plate  XXVII. — Anosia      plexippus;      Basilarchia 

arthemis;  and  Basilarchia  archippus  .         .  .      116 

Plate  XXVIII. — Euptoieta claudia;  Argynnis cybele; 

Argynnis  aphrodite;  and  Argynnis  idalia  .      118 

Plate  XXXIII. — Lycana  comyntas;  Lyccena  ladon; 
Chrysophanus  hypophlcBus;  Feniseca  tarquinitis; 
Thecla  melinus;  Thecla  damon;  Libythea 
bachmani;  and  Calephelis  borealis       .  .  .132 

Plate  XXXVI. — Papilio  turnus;  Papilio  glaucus; 
Papilio  troilus;  Papilio  polyxenes;  and  Papilio 
philenor  .......      140 

Plate  XXXVIII. — Hemaris  thysbe;  Deilephila 
lineata;  Ampelophagus  myron;  and  Pholus  pan- 
dorus     ........     148 

vii 


COLORED  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


FACING   PAGE 

Plate  XLIII. — Actias  luna  .         ,         .         .160 

Plate  XLV. — Automeris      io       and      Dryocampa 

rubicunda    ...  ....      162 

Plate  XLIX. — Haploa  clymene;  Uteiheisa  bella;  Isia 
Isabella;  Estigmene  acrcea;  Diacrisia  virginica; 
Apantesis  nais;  and  Euchatias  egle    .  .  .168 

Plate  LIII. — Catocala      relicta;      Catocala      cara; 

Catocala  vidua;  and  Catocala  uUronia  .  .180 

Plate  LIX. — Thyridopteryx  ephemercBformis;  Euclea 

Moris;  Sibine  stimulea;  and  Harrisina'.,:americana     200 

Plate  LXVI. — Odontomyia  cincta;  Tabanus  ni- 
grovittatus;  Chrysopila  thoracica;  Anthrax 
lateralis;  Bombylius  major;  Psilopodinus 
patibulatus;  Syrphus  americanus;  Volucella  evecta; 
Bombyliomyia  abrupta;  and  Milesia  virginiensis  .     248 

Plate  LXX. — Musca  domestica;  Stomoxys  calcitrans; 
Chrysomyia  macellaria;  Calliphora  vomitoria; 
Lucilia  casar;  Sarcophaga  hcemorrhoidalis;  and 
Drosophila  melanogaster  .         .         .         .         .272 

Plate  LXXIII. — Cicindela  sexguttata:  Cicindela 
generosa;  Lebia  grandis;  Calosoma  calidum;  Calo- 
soma  scrutator;  Platynus  cupripennis;  Agonoderus 
pallipes;  and  Brachinus  fumans         .         .         .286 

Plate  LXXV. — Silpha  noveboracensis;  Necrophorus 
marginatus;  Creopkilus  villosus;  Tachinus 
fimbriatus;  a  staphylinid  larva;  Megilla  fus- 
cilabris;  Coccinella  g-notata;  Adalia  bipunctata; 
Hippodamia  convergens;  Anatis  i ^-punctata;  and 
Epilachne  borealis    ......     296 

viii 


COLORED  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


FACING    PAGE 

Plate  LXXXI. — PhancBus  carnifex;  Cotalpa 
lanigera^'  Allorhina  nitida;  Desmocerus  palliatus; 
Saperda  Candida;  Cyllene  robinice;  Chrysochus 
auratus;  and  Galerucella  luteola  .  .  .     332 

Plate  LXXXIII. — Crioceris  asparagi;  Lema  tri- 
lineata;  Leptinotarsa  lo-lineata;  Diahrotica  12- 
punctata;  Diahrotica  vittata;  Phyllotreta  vittata; 
Chalepus  rubra;  larva  of  Cassida  hivitkita;  and 
Coptocycla  hicolor    ......     364 

Plate  XC. — Mutilla  occidentalis;  Elis  5-cincta; 
Chrysis  cceruleans;  Eumenes  fraternus;  Odyfierus 
hirenimactdatus;  Monobia  quadridens;  Vespa 
crab^o;  Vespa  communis;  and  Vespa  maculata       .     424 

Plate  XCII. — Psammochares  atrox;  Sceliphron 
cementarium;  Chalybion  cceruleum;  Chlorion  ich- 
neumonea;  Sphex  (incorrectly  spelled  on  plate) 
urnaria;  Bembex  spinolce;  Cerceris  clypeata; 
Sphecius  speciosus;  and  Crahro  ....     434 

Plate  XCIV. — Bombus  impatiens;  Bombus  ter- 
narius;  Bombus  pennsylvanicus ;  Xylocopa  vir- 
ginica;  Nomada  luteola;  and  Agapostemon 
radiatus  .......     45^ 


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INTRODUCTION 

Ten  years  ago  I  felt  sure  that  there  was 
little  excuse  for  additional  general  ento- 
mologies. The  market  seemed  full  of  popular,  semi- 
popular  and  unpopular  books,  each  apparently  attempting 
the  impossible — the  covering  of  a  boundless  field.  Since 
then  a  hundred,  or  more,  new  works  on  the  subject  have 
appeared  and  lo!  here  is  still  another  because,  in  the 
meantime,  it  has  been  my  privilege  to  come  in  rather  close 
contact  with  the  laity,  having  been  the  official  answerer 
of  all  sorts  of  questions  from  "  How  much  is  a  moth  worth?  " 
to  ' '  Why  are  bedbugs  ?  "  I  take  this  opportunity  of  taking 
up  some  of  the  intermediate  points. 

When  the  publishers  of  this  series  spoke 
about  a  Field  Book  of  Insects,  to  be  a 
companion  to  the  excellent  books  already  published,  we 
began  to  deal  with  the  arithmetic  of  large  numbers. 
There  are,  for  example,  approximately  15,000  species  of 
insects  to  be  found  within  fifty  miles  of  New  York  City; 
more  than  2,000  of  these  are  either  moths  or  butterflies. 
A  book  to  enable  the  student  to  recognize  all  the  insects 
of  even  this  limited  region  would  have  to  be  as  large  as 
one  for  the  birds  for  the  whole  world.  The  accompanying 
diagrams  may  win  some  sympathy  for  entomologists  and 
at  the  same  time  indicate  the  inexhaustible  field  for  study 
offered  by  insects.  However,  only  a  small  portion  of 
these  thousands  are  usually  noticed  by  the  layman  or, 
outside  of  his  speciality,  by  the  average  amateur,  and 
generally  the  interest  is  not  so  much  in  knowing  the  specific 
name  as  in  learning  the  general  group  to  which  the  insect 
belongs  and  what  it  does.  This  constitutes  a  general 
knowledge  of  insects;  to  go  further,  in  most  groups,  one 
must  become  a  speciaHst.  This  book  refers,  by  specific 
name,  to  about  1400  different  kinds  of  insects  inhabiting 
the  United  States  and  nearly  600  of  these  are  illustrated 
by  one  or  more  figures.  If  the  selections  were  as  wisely 
made  as  we  hope  they  were,  the  non-specialist  should  be 
able,  by  its  aid,  to  recognize,  at  least  in   a  general  way. 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Families 

Genera 

Species 

Thysanura 

2 

18 

41 

Ephemerida 

I 

13 

29 

Plecoptera 

I 

14 

25 

Mallophaga 

4 

14 

100 

Isoptera 

I 

I 

I 

Corrodentia 

I 

17 

39 

Platyptera 

I 

3 

9 

Neuroptera 

6 

22 

41 

Mecoptera 

I 

4 

II 

Trichoptera 

7 

30 

56 

Odonata 

3 

43 

109 

Thysanoptera 

I 

6 

12 

Parasitica 

I 

3 

13 

Homoptera 

II 

149 

479 

Hemiptera 

23 

205 

504 

Dermoptera 

I 

5 

5 

Ortboptera 

6 

58 

154 

Coleoptera 

77 

1,079 

3,092 

Lepidoptera 

48 

715 

2,120 

Hymenoptera 

81 

541 

1,980 

Siphonoptera 

I 

4 

4 

Diptera 

53 

542 

1,661 

Totals 

331 

3,486 

10,385 

.  The  Number  of  Insects  in  New  Jersey,  as  recorded  in 
Smith's  List.  The  classification  differs  somewhat  from 
the  one  used  here. 


INTRODUCTION. 


most  of  the  insects  which  attract  his  attention  and  to  find 
the  answer  to  most  of  the  questions  he  is  tempted  to  ask 
the  specialist.  It  is  not  intended  to  be  a  manual  of 
economic  entomology  although  most  of  our  relatively  few 
injurious  insects  are  included.  It  is  intended  to  be  an 
introductory  field  book  to  commonly  observed  species 
and  the  larger  groups  of  insects.  Although  the  species 
mentioned  are,  for  the  most  part,  inhabitants  of  north- 
eastern United  States,  many  of  them  have  a  wide  distri- 
bution in  this  country  and  some  of  them  even  in  other 
continents.  I  hope,  therefore,  and  especially  since  the 
generalities  are  more  important  than  concrete  illustrations, 
that  this  little  book  may  be  useful  to  laymen  "wherever 
dispersed."  You  can  provide  your  own  concrete  illus- 
trations, once  you  have  the  general  idea.  I  have  been 
governed  in  the  choice  of  subject  matter,  not  so  much  by 
what  I  think  ought  to  be  in  a  book  on  insects  as  by  what 
the  pubHc  seem  to  want  to  know,  judging  by  the  letters 
received  and  personal  inquiries  made  at  an  institution 
whose  motto  is  "For  the  people,  for  education,  for  science." 
Really  the  title  might  be  Answers  to  Common  Questions 
about  Insects. 

We  are,  all  of  us,  immensely  indebted 
to  those  who  have  gone  before  us.  The 
mass  of  knowledge  about  insects,  great  in  reality  but  small 
in  comparison  with  our  ignorance,  has  been  accumulated, 
bit  by  bit,  by  the  laboring  man  in  his  Sunday  strolls  and 
by  the  highly  trained  investigator.  Much  of  this  has  been 
told  over  and  over ;  none  of  us  can  hope  to  prove  all  of  the 
statements.  I  have  drawn  freel)'-  on  books  and  papers, 
too  numerous  to  mention,  for  facts  which  I  did  not  pre- 
viously know— some  of  which  I  have  already  forgotten. 
This  book  is  frankly  a  compilation  and  will  be  useful  in 
proportion  to  the  skill  with  which  the  selections  were 
made  and  put  together.  The  new  illustrations,  about 
700,  have  been  made  by  Mrs.  E.  L.  BeutenmuUer,  largely 
from  specimens  in  the  American  Museima  of  Natural 
History;  and  those  concerned  with  collecting  methods 
and  galls  are  copied  from  papers  published  by  that  institu- 
tion, which  has  also  kindly  permitted  me  to  use  much  of 

3 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


its  time  in  the  work.  I  thank,  also,  the  following  friends 
and  associates  for  helpful  suggestions  and  criticisms: 
H.  G.  Barber,  concerning  Hemiptera;  J.  Bequaert,  Dip- 
tera  and  Hymenoptera;  Wm.  T.  Davis,  Odonata  and 
Orthoptera;  E.  P.  Felt,  galls;  C.  W.  Leng  and  A.  J. 
Mutchler,  Coleoptera;  F.  E.  Watson,  Lepidoptera;  and 
Herbert  F.  Schwarz,  who  kindly  acted  as  a  "lay 
critic." 

At   the    afore-mentioned   institution    we 
About  Names  ,         .  .   .      j  ,  •.    i  , 

were  once  severely  criticized  by  an  excitable 

visiting  school-marm  because  we  had  labeled  a  number  of 
exhibition  specimens  with  their  scientific  names  but  had 
neglected  to  give  English  names  to  them.  I  had  been 
trying,  for  some  time,  an  interesting  experiment  on 
several  children  with  whom  I  had  been  rather  intimately 
associated  (they  were  my  own).  The  first  move  was  to 
tell  one  of  them  that  the  name  of  a  certain  burly  bee  she 
saw  in  the  garden  was  Bombus.  About  a  week  later 
there  were  near-tears  because  a  neighbor  insisted  it  was  a 
Bumble-bee.  Matters  were  smoothed  over  by  explaining 
that  Bombus  was  the  real  name  for  such  bees  and  Bvunble- 
bee  was  a  nickname.  There  are  thousands  of  kinds  of 
native-born,  United  States  insects  which  have  been  really- 
named  but  not  nicknamed.  I  have  made  an  effort  in  this 
book  to  record  the  real  names  correctly  and  have  given 
the  nicknames  when  I  knew  them;  when  I  did  not,  I 
usually  have  left  you  the  pleasure  of  inventing  new  ones. 
Often  real  names  are  no  longer  or  harder  than  the  "com- 
mon" names.  An  insect  is  considered  to  be  christened 
when  some  student,  who  has  found  a  kind  which  he  thinks 
has  never  been  named,  publishes  a  description  of  it  and 
gives  it  a  properly  formed  name.  If  somebody  had 
previously  named  the  same  kind,  the  prior  name  usually 
holds.  There  is  a  complicated  code  governing  the  matter, 
and  the  changing  of  scientific  names,  which  has  so  worried 
many  readers,  is  caused  by  the  discovery  and  rectification 
of  violations  of  this  code.  The  shaking-down  process  is 
painful  but  ultimate  stability  is  hoped  for  and,  withal,  I 
feel  sure  that  the  "real"  names  are  better  than  the  best 
nicknames. 


TAXONOMY. 

_,     _  Clearly  some  system  of  filing  is  necessary 

The  System  ,  i       /•     i       i         i      i        .■ 

in  order  to  keep  track  of  the  hundreds  of 

thousands  of  insect  names.  A  business  man  keeps  his 
reference  cards  or  letters  in  groups  and  sub-groups.  As 
his  business  grows  he  not  only  adds  new  groups  but  he 
breaks  up  the  old  groups  into  finer  divisions.  It  is  the 
same  way  with  the  arrangement  (taxonomy)  of  insects. 
Formerly  nine  major  groups  ("Orders")  were  enough  for 
insects,  the  "Class"  of  animals  with  six  legs.  The  latest 
works  divide  insects  into  several  Classes  and  there  are 
nearly  forty  Orders.  Not  to  make  it  too  complicated,  we 
will  follow  a  moderate  course  and  consider  all  insects  as 
belonging  to  one  Class,  which  is  divided  into  about  two 
dozen  Orders.  Flies,  in  the  strict  sense,  have  no  more 
than  two  wings  and  belong  to  the  "two- winged"  Order 
(Diptera);  the  Order  to  which  butterflies  and  moths 
belong  is  Lepidoptera;  that  to  which  beetles  belong  is 
Coleoptera;  and  so  on.  Orders  are  divided  into  "sub- 
orders" and  these  into  "families."  Lady-bird  beetles 
belong  to  the  family  Coccinelidae,  while  carpet  beetles  are 
Dermestidse.  Family  names  always  end  in  dae  and  sub- 
family names  in  nas.  The  next  division  which  need 
concern  us  is  "genus";  and  then  "species."  The  names 
of  these  divisions  are  the  ones  ordinarily  used.  The 
generic  name  should  always  be  written  with  a  capital  and 
the  specific  with  a  small  initial  letter;  they  are  usually 
printed  in  italics.  Bumble-bees  are  Bombus;  a  common 
species  is  Bombus  pennsylvanicus.  Some  species  have 
varieties;  for  example:  one  of  our  beautiful  butterflies  is 
Papilio  glaucus  variety  turnus.  This  system  is  more 
than  a  pure  matter  of  convenience;  it  aims  to  point  out 
relationships.  The  species  of  a  given  genus  are  supposed 
to  be  more  closely  related  to  each  other  than  they  are  to 
the  species  of  other  genera  of  the  same  family,  and  the 
different  genera  of  a  given  family  are  believed  to  be  more 
closely  related  to  each  other  than  to  those  of  other  families 
of  the  same  order  and  so  on. 

The  technical  entomologist  will  notice  that  the  arrange- 
ment of  our  text  does  not  follow  absolutely  any  one  of  the 
arrangements  with  which  he  is  familiar.  This  liberty  was 
taken  because  it  was  believed  that  certain  deviations  would 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


be  more  convenient  for  the  layman,— a  liberty  somewhat 
to  be  pardoned  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  few  technical 
books  agree  among  themselves.  Brues  and  Melander's 
Key  to  the  Families  of  North  American  Insects  is  the  best, 
recent,  detailed  treatment  of  the  subject. 

Concerning  Much   against   my   inchnation,    I    have 

Measurements  given  measurements  in  inches.  This  has 
made  it  necessary  to  use  various  fractions 
and  these  are  awkward  things  to  get  at  on  ordinary  rules. 
In  using  measurements,  it  must  be  remembered  that  there 
is  considerable  variation  in  the  size  of  the  same  species 
and,  even  where  upper  and  lower  limits  are  given,  these 
limits  may  be  overstepped  by  exceptional  individuals  or 
by  many  individuals  in  exceptional  seasons  or  localities. 
In  those  illustrations  which  are  not  natural  size,  the  aver- 
age size  of  the  insect  is  usually  indicated  by  a  line  near  the 
figure. 

Growth  ^h.\is  early  be  it  said  that  insects  do  not 

grow    after    they    have    attained    wings. 
Small,  winged  flies  do  not  grow  to  be  large,  winged  flies 
even  though  the  same  kitchen  window  frequently  contains 
all  sizes.     There  are  two  main  sorts  of  life  histories,  called 
respectively   Incomplete  and   Complete   Metamorphosis. 
Insects  having  the  first  kind,  grasshoppers  for  example, 
look,  when  they  leave  the  eggs,  more  or  less  like  minia- 
tures of  the  adults  except  that  they  have  no  wings  even  if 
the  adults  have.     Insects  of  the  second  sort  may  be  as 
different,  when  they  hatch,  from  the  adult  as  a  caterpillar 
is  from  a  butterfly,  and  they  usually  go  through  a  resting 
(pupal)  stage  before  they  get  wings.     Young  insects  may 
be  said  to  grow  by  leaps   and   bounds,  not  gradually. 
They  are  largely  covered,  like  lobsters,  by  a  shell  which 
will  not  stretch.     All  the  flesh  is  inside  of  this  shell,  and 
when  the  quantity  of  this  flesh  gets  too  large  the  shell 
splits,  usually  down  the  back;  the  insect  emerges,  swells 
out,  and  his  new  skin  again  hardens   by  reason  of  the 
chitin  it  contains.     This  process  is  repeated  several  times 
before  adult  life  is  reached.     The  number  of  molts  is 
usually  very  definite  for  each  species  and  sometimes  an 

6 


ANATOMY. 


insect,  so  starved  that  it  hvis  not  largely  increased  its 
flesh,  will,  nevertheless,  carry  on  its  accustomed  molts. 
In  the  case  of  winged  ins-^cts  having  incomplete  meta- 
morphosis, the  developinf^  wings  show  as  pads  several 
stages  before  the  adult.  In  those  having  complete  meta- 
morphosis, even  the  fu/1-grown  larvae  have  no  external 
indication  of  wings;  these  appear  externally  after  the  molt 
which  results  in  the  piipa  and,  when  the  pupa  molts,  out 
steps  the  winged  adu'.t. 

The  Inside  Mention    has    been    made    of    the    hard 

("chitinized")  skins  of  insects:  it  is  their 
skeleton  and  their  muscles  are  attached  to  it.  In  man, 
the  blood  is  sent  to  the  lungs  for  a  load  of  oxygen 
which  it  then  carries  to  the  tissues.  Insects  do  things 
more  directly;  air  is  conducted  to  all  parts  of  the 
body  by  means  of  a  system  of  tubes  called  tracheae. 
This  system  usually  has  a  number  of  outside  openings 
(spiracles)  placed  along  each  side  of  the  body,  but  there  is 
none  on  the  head.  Insects  do  not  breathe  through  their 
mouths.  Blood  completely  fills  the  body  cavity  and  is 
kept  in  motion  by  means  of  a  "heart"  which  is  merely  a 
pulsating  tube  open  at  both  ends.  The  central  nervous 
system  is  a  double,  longitudinal  series  of  ganglia  connected, 
one  with  another,  by  cords.  There  is  no  brain,  strictly 
speaking,  for  the  ganglia  in  the  thorax  seem  to  be  about  as 
important  as  those  in  the  head.  Nerves  run  from  each 
ganglion  to  nearby  parts  of  the  body.  Most  insects  seem 
to  smell  by  means  of  their  antennae  and  some  to  hear 
with  the  same  organs,  but  the  location  of  "ears, "  if  "ears" 
exist,  is  various  and  not  always  known. 

The  Outside  ^^^  insects  are  divided  into  three  parts: 

head,  thorax  and  abdomen.  In  some 
larvae  these  parts  are  not  distinctly  marked  off,  but 
usually  there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  recognizing  the 
head.  The  thorax  bears  the  wings,  if  any,  and  the 
true  legs,  if  any.  No  insect  ever  has  more  than  three 
pairs  of  true  legs,  and  no  other  creatures  which  the  amateur 
is  likely  to  notice  and  confuse  with  insects  have  as  few 
as  three  pairs  of  legs.     The  part  of  the  thorax  which  bears 

7 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


the  front  legs  is  called  the  prothorax;  the  middle  legs  are 
on  the  mesothorax;  and  the  hind  legs,  on  the  metathorax. 
The  top  is  called  the  notum  and  the  under  side  the  sternum. 
We  have,  then,  "pronotum,"  "presternum, "  and  so  on. 
The  abdomen  is  the  part  of  the  body  back  of  the  thorax. 
In  many  larvae,  such  as  ordinary  caterpillars,  the  abdomen 
may  have  leg-like,  fleshy  props  or  claspers,  and  in  many 
adult  insects  there  are  "caudal"  appendages  of  one  sort 
or  another  at  the  hind  end  of  the  abdomen.  Going  from 
the  thorax  outwards,  the  principal  parts  of  the  legs  are 
coxa,  trochanter,  femur,  tibia  and  tarsus.  The  tarsus  is 
usually  made  up  of  several  joints  and  usually  ends  in  one 
or  more  claws.  The  first  joint  of  the  tarsus  is  sometimes 
much  larger  than  its  companions  and  is  called  metatarsus 
or  basitarsus.  The  big  joints  of  the  leg  are  the  tibia 
and  femur.  The  trochanter  is  small  and  sometimes  two- 
jointed.  The  coxa  usually  looks  like  a  small  part  of  the 
thorax.  An  insect's  jaws  chew,  if  they  do  chew,  sideways, 
not  up  and  down.  The  mouth  parts  are  subject  to  a 
great  deal  of  modification  and  in  some  groups,  instead  of 
biting,  they  pierce  and  suck.  Typically,  there  are  two 
sets  of  jaws:  mandibles  and  maxillce.  The  latter  are 
usually  the  more  delicate  and  are  furnished  with  a  pair  of 
feeler-like  structures  called  palps.  The  lower  lip  (labiimi) 
also  has  a  pair  of  palps.  These  two  sets  of  palps  are 
supposed  to  be  tasting  organs.  The  eyes  are  of  two  sorts : 
compoimd  and  simple.  The  pair  usually  noticed  are  the 
compound  eyes  and  are  compact  clusters  of  single  eyes 
(ommatidia).  Some  insects,  such  as  certain  "silver- 
fish,"  have  not  more  than  12  ommatidia  to  each  eye;  and 
some  hawk-moths,  27,000.  The  simple  eyes  (ocelli)  are 
situated  between,  and  usually  a  little  higher  than,  the 
compoiuid  eyes.  There  are  usually  three.  Finally,  the 
outside  of  an  insect's  body  is  usually  more  or  less  covered 
with  hairs.  In  butterflies  and  moths  these  hairs  are 
largely  scale-like.  When  descriptions  refer  to  hairy  eyes, 
do  not  expect  too  much;  a  lens  is  usually  necessary  to  see 
these  hairs.  This  is  about  all  the  anatomy  one  needs  to 
start  with.     More  will  be  explained  as  occasion  arises. 


COLLECTINQ  INSECTS. 


COLLECTING  AND  PRESERVING  INSECTS 

The  following  directions  are,  with  slight  changes,  those 
which  are  contained  in  the  American  Museum's  leaflet  on 
How  to  Collect  and  Preserve  Insects. 

When  and  Where  to  Find  Insects 

An  entomologist  is  frequently  amused  at  being  asked 
by  well-meaning  friends  if  he  found  anything  when  he 
went  out.  Insect  hunting  is  a  sport  in  which  there  are 
no  blanks,  if  you  know  the  game.  Frequently  the  most 
unpromising  times  and  places  are  the  best,  for  others 
have  been  discouraged  by  the  outlook  and  you  get  what 
they  have  missed.  We  can  never  truly  say  that  we  know 
an  insect's  haunts  until  we  can  tell  where  to  look  for  it 
every  hour  of  every  day  in  the  year.  Many  insects  are 
great  hiders  and  should  be  looked  for  under  bark;  in 
rotten  wood;  under  stones,  dead  leaves,  etc.;  among  the 
roots  of  plants;  in  stems  and  flowers — in  short  everywhere 
and  at  all  times. 

Collecting  Apparatus  and  How  to  Use  It 

The  great  essentials  for  insect  collecting  were  given 
each  of  us  at  birth  and  need  only  be  improved  by  use — an 
inquiring  mind,  eyes  and  fingers.  Only  a  very  few  insects 
sting  to  such  an  extent  that  collecting  with  unaided 
fingers  is  uncomfortable  and  even  the  swiftest  fliers  can 
be  caught  by  hand  when  they  are  young  or  asleep.  How- 
ever, certain  tools  are  handy.  They  can  either  be  made 
at  home  or  purchased  rather  cheaply  from  dealers. ' 


'  Such  as  Ward's  Natural  Science-Establishment,  Roch- 
ester, N.  Y.;  Kny-Scheerer  Co.,  56  West  23d  St.,  O. 
Fulda,  63  Fifth  Ave.,  and  Scientific  Equipment  Co., 
70  Fifth  Ave.,  New  York  City;  H.  H.  Brehme,  P.  O.  Box 
432,  South  Amboy,  N.  J.;  and  Williams,  Brown  and  Earle, 
918  Chestnut  St.,  Philadelphia. 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Mention  of  insect  collecting  immediately  suggests  a 
net.  For  the  capture  of  adult  butterflies,  moths  and  other 
delicate,  flying  creatures  this  should  be  of  the  lightest 
possible  material.  Fine  Brussels  net  or  bobinet  is  used 
for  the  larger  sizes  (i  to  2  ft.  in  diameter)  and  silk  veiling 
for  the  pocket  sizes.  The  depth  of  this  net  should  be  at 
least  twice  the  diameter  of  its  rim  so  that,  when  an  insect 
is  caught,  a  twist  will  fold  the  bag  against  the  rim  and 
leave  the  insect  imprisoned  in  the  lower  end  of  the  bag. 
The  beginner  is  apt  to  choose  too  long  a  handle  and  can 
then  take  only  long  slow  strokes  even  if  he  avoids  getting 
all  mixed  up  with  the  vegetation  and  interfering  with 
his  fellow  collectors.  Three  feet  is  long  enough  for  a 
handle. 

The  sweeping  net  should  be  made  of  stout,  white  muslin, 
or  light  duck,  on  a  strong  rim  well  fastened  to  a  handle  of 
such  a  length  that  the  user  can  just  touch  the  ground  with 
the  rim  of  the  net  without  stooping.  The  diameter  of  the 
net  depends  somewhat  on  the  strength  of  the  user  and  its 
depth  may  be  from  i>^  to  2  times  its  diameter.  It  is 
used  to  sweep  blindly  through  grass,  bunches  of  flowers, 
light  bushes,  etc.,  in  a  fairly  certain  expectation  of  getting 
something.  Much  of  the  material  will  be  damaged  by  the 
rough  handling,  but  it  is  the  quickest  way  to  get  large 
numbers  of  specimens,  and  the  only  way  to  get  certain 
things  quickly.  The  tendency  seems  to  be  to  make  the 
handle  of  the  sweep  net  too  short,  some  on  the  market 
being  only  6  in.  long.  These  do  not  tire  the  arm  so  much 
as  nets  with  longer  handles,  but  you  either  miss  the  insects 
living  near  the  ground  or  you  get  a  very  tired  back.  One 
useful  trick  in  sweeping  is  to  have  a  small  cushion  of 
cotton,  covered  with  cheese-cloth  or  muslin,  and  a  bottle 
of  chloroform  or  ether.  After  sweeping  for  a  few  minutes 
moisten  the  cushion  with  the  anesthetic,  drop  it  into  the 
net,  and  quickly  twist  up  the  bag  so  that  the  fumes  are 
confined.  In  a  short  time  even  the  liveliest  grasshopper 
will  be  asleep  and  can  be  picked  out  and  either  saved  or 
rejected.  If  rejected,  they  will  all  shortly  revive  and 
walk,  hop,  or  fly  away.  The  cushion  is  not  strictly 
necessary  as  the  chloroform  may  be  put  directly  on  the 
net  after  the  insects  are  folded  in  the  bottom. 

10 


NETS  AND  SIFTING. 


The  third  net  of  the  complete  outfit  is  the  water  net. 
The  bag  should  be  of  some  strong  material  through  which 
water  will  run  readily.  The  rim  should  be  strong  and 
may  be  either  circular  in  outline  or  flattened  at  the  side 
opposite  the  handle.  The  advantage  of  the  flattening 
is  that  the  bottom  of  ponds  can  be  skimmed,  but  the 
circular  rim  does  fairly  well,  as  the  stirring  of  the  water 
stirs  up  even  the  insects  at  the  bottom  and  they  are  caught 
in  the  return  swish  of  the  net.  A  great  deal  of  mud  and 
weeds  will  also  be  caught,  but  devices  to  prevent  this, 
such  as  covering  the  mouth  of  the  net  with  a  coarse  wire 
screen,  do  not  work  well  in  collecting  insects.  After 
clearing  the  net  of  mud  as  much  as  possible  by  wash- 
ing it  through  the  net,  dump  the  rest  on  the  bank,  pre- 
ferably in  the  sun.  Some  insects  will  probably  be  seen 
at  once,  others  will  appear  as  the  mass  dries  out.  After 
you  think  you  have  found  everything,  wait  a  while  and 
look  out  for  very  small  beetles.  Many  collectors  miss 
them. 

Many,  or  most,  of  the  nets  that  are  for  sale  have  fold- 
ing rims  and  jointed  handles.  Opinion  differs  as  to  the 
best.  When,  as  is  often  the  case,  lightness  and  ease 
of  transportation  is  an  object,  it  is  well  to  have  but 
one  handle  and  frame,  with  interchangeable  bags.  The 
landing  net  used  by  fishermen,  in  which  the  frame 
consists  of  two  pieces  of  flexible  steel  that  lie  close 
together  when  not  in  use,  is  excellent.  The  two-jointed 
handle  is  better  than  the  three-jointed  one,  as  one  of 
the  joints  of  the  former  is  just  right  except  for  high 
flying  or  deep  diving  quarry.  In  these  cases  add  the 
second. 

A  sieve  is  handy  for  getting  the  small  insects  hiding 
under  acciimulations  of  dead  leaves,  in  moss,  trash,  etc. 
Two  sieves  with  meshes  of  different  size  are  handier.  A 
good  plan  is  to  have  a  strong  bag  about  a  foot  and  a  half 
square  by  two  feet  deep.  About  nine  inches  from  the 
top  sew  pieces  across  the  comers  so  that  a  piece  of  half- 
inch  mesh  wire  screen  can  rest  on  them.  Sift  through  this 
until  there  is  quite  a  bit  of  fine  material  in  the  bottom  of 
the  bag  and  then  retire  to  a  comfortable  place  protected 
from  the  wind  and  spread  a  small  sheet  of  white  muslin  or 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


canvas.  Now  resift,  using  a  mesh  about  four  or  five  to 
an  inch.  The  flat-bottomed  sieves,  six  or  eight  inches  ' 
in  diameter,  which  are  used  for  making  French  fried 
potatoes,  and  the  new  wire  pie-pans  are  excellent.  Sift 
a  very  thin  layer  on  to  the  white  cloth  and  examine 
carefully  the  coarse  stuff  for  relatively  large  things 
before  it  is  thrown  away.  Be  patient  with  the  small 
stuff.  Insects  have  a  habit  of  "playing  possum"  and 
have  plenty  of  patience  themselves.  They  do  not 
seem  to  like  tobacco  smoke.  If  you  do,  blow  some 
on  the  litter.  It  will  hasten  matters, — at  least,  smokers 
think  so. 

This  is  a  good  place  to  mention  collecting  forceps, 
as  they  are  almost  necessary  in  picking  up  very  small 
insects  as  well  as  insects  concerning  whose  ability  and 
inclination  to  sting  there  may  be  some  suspicion.  The 
best  forceps  for  handling  very  delicate  insects  do  not 
seem  to  be  on  the  market.  They  are  made  of  strips 
of  German  silver  and  have  small  but  rounded  points. 
However,  small  steel  ones  do  very  well.  Steel  for- 
ceps about  a  foot  long  are  handy  for  picking  caddice 
cases,  etc.,  out  of  water,  but  they  are  of  little  use 
in  general  work.  Dealers  also  carry  forceps  having 
gauze-covered  frames  at  the  tips.  They  are  meant 
for  holding  stinging  insects  while  they  are  being  ex- 
amined, but  they,  also,  are  of  very  little  use  to  the  general 
collector. 

A  strong  knife  for  cutting  off  galls,  stripping  bark, 
splitting  infested  branches,  etc.,  is  essential.  A  trowel  is 
useful  in  following  insect  burrows  or  digging  for  root 
borers.  The  entrenching  tool  used  in  the  army  is  a 
handy,  all-aroimd  substitute  for  trowel,  hatchet,  and  large 
knife. 

There  are  two  chief  methods  of  night-collecting  in 
general  use:  "sugaring"  and  at  light.  Another,  while 
not  so  productive  of  specimens,  is  more  interesting.  It 
consists  in  simply  prowling  around  with  lamp,  examining 
the  center  of  flowers,  the  underside  of  leaves,  tree-trunks, 
etc.,  to  find  out  what  the  nocturnal  insects  are  doing  and 
also  where  and  how  the  day-flying  insects  are  passing  the 
night. 

12 


Plate  III 


13 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


There  are  about  as  many  recipes  for  making  the  sugar 
mixture  as  there  are  for  "mother's  biscuits."  Baking 
molasses  usually  forms  the  basis.  Some  additions  are 
any  combination,  or  all,  of  stale  beer,  rum,  asafoetida  and 
brown  sugar.  The  mixture  should  spread  easily  but  not 
run  badly.  It  is  to  be  applied  before  dusk  on  tree  trunks, 
fence  rails,  and  the  like.  Starting  from  some  comfortable 
resting  place  as  a  base,  lay  out  a  circuitous  route,  "sugar- 
ing" something  every  few  feet,  and  end  at  the  resting 
place.  After  dark,  if  luck  be  good,  the  sugared  strips  will 
be  full  of  moths  and  other  insects  eagerly  sipping  the 
sweets.  Several  wide-mouthed  cyanide  killing  bottles 
(see  p.  1 6)  will  be  useful,  but  a  net  will  be  practically  use- 
less. It  is  well  to  have  a  little  ether  in  each  bottle,  and 
do  not  put  a  moth  in  a  bottle  until  its  predecessors  have 
stopped  fluttering.  Only  experience  will  teach  how  to 
catch  these  moths  with  a  bottle.  Some  fly  upward  when 
disturbed  and  some  fly  straight  out  or  sideways,  but  the 
majority  drop  a  few  inches  before  flying;  so,  when  in 
doubt,  hold  the  bottle  slightly  below  the  prospective 
captive. 

Light  attracts  many  sorts  of  insects  besides  moths. 
Street  and  porch  lights  are  fruitful  hunting  grounds.  A 
lamp  by  an  open  window  makes  the  room  it  is  in  a  splendid 
trap  or  a  smaller  one  can  be  fixed  up  and  put  "in  the  field." 
Plate  III.  shows  the  principle.  The  details  vary  to  suit 
collectors'  whims.  It  is  not  difficult  to  make  the  box 
collapsible  so  that  it  can  easily  be  transported.  An 
ordinary  barn-lantern  set  in  the  center  of  a  white  sheet 
or  a  "bull's  eye"  throwing  a  light  against  a  sheet  hung 
over  a  fence  or  between  trees  does  very  well.  In  the 
latter  cases  a  net  will  be  desirable  but  not  easy  to  use. 
Last  summer  I  used,  with  great  success,  a  cheese-cloth 
tent  with  a  muslin  grotmd-cloth.  The  tent  was  A-shaped, 
about  9  X  6  ft.  on  the  ground  and  6  ft.  high,  with  inward- 
pointing  flies  at  each  end.  A  lantern  (or  two)  was  placed 
inside.  The  outside  worked  like  a  sheet  and  the  inside 
was  a  trap.  Both  light  and  sugar  work  best  where  there 
is  a  variety  of  vegetation,  as  where  woodland  passes 
into  swamp  or  where  there  is  an  abimdance  of  second 
growth. 

14 


TRAPS,   BEATING,   REARING. 


Many  other  sorts  of  traps  have  been  devised.  Ohve 
bottles  and  fruit  jars  buried  up  to  the  neck  in  the  ground 
and  baited  with  molasses,  meat,  etc.,  are  simple  and 
effective.  The  insects  caught  in  this  way  may  be  washed 
off  and  will  be  nearly  as  good  as  new.  Boards,  daubed  on 
the  under  side  with  molasses  or  covering  meat,  are  not  bad. 
Girdled  branches  and  cut  limbs,  hung  up,  attract  wood- 
boring  insects  which  can  then  be  collected  by  beating 
them  into  an  upturned  umbrella  by  sharp  I3'  rapping  the 
limbs  with  a  stout  stick.  In  fact,  an  umbrella  is  a  very 
useful  piece  of  apparatus.  Branches,  both  living  and 
dead,  are  full  of  insects.  The  inverted  umbrella  catches 
what  are  knocked  off  but  does  not  hold  them  for  long. 
The  collector  must  act  quickly.  Some  collectors  put  a 
quill  in  the  cork  of  a  collecting  tube  as  shown  in  Plate  III. 
If  the  outer  end  of  the  quill  be  put  over  the  insect,  it  will 
crawl  up  through  the  quill  and  into  the  bottle  from  which 
exit  is  difficult.  If  the  umbrella  be  white,  or  at  least  lined 
with  white,  the  insects  can  be  more  easily  seen  but  so  can 
the  collector — not  by  the  insects  particularly,  but  by 
inquisitive  humans — and  the  non-committal  black  does 
very  well. 

Beating  will  knock  down  many  larvae.  Directions  for 
preserving  them  are  given  on  p.  22.  Some,  at  least,  should 
be  reared  and  here  ingenuity  is  of  more  value  than  volumes 
of  instructions.  The  beginner  will  doubtless  be  inclined 
to  give  his  charges  more  light  and  air  than  is  necessary. 
Pasteboard  shoe-boxes  are  excellent  for  large  caterpillars. 
Tin  boxes  keep  the  food  longer  and  are  easily  cleaned,  but 
must  be  watched  carefully  or  the  food  will  mould.  If  the 
food-plant  can  be  potted,  a  good  contrivance  is  to  slip  a 
lantern  globe  over  it,  sinking  the  bottom  far  enough  in 
the  ground  to  prevent  the  escape  of  larvse  in  that  direction 
and  covering  the  top  with  cheese-cloth.  Even  if  the  plant 
cannot  be  grown,  twigs  can  be  kept  fresh  for  some  time  by 
keeping  their  cut  ends  in  a  small  bottle  of  water  sunk  in 
the  ground  and  used  inside  a  lantern  globe.  (See  Plate 
IV.)  The  twigs  will  be  held  in  place  and  larvae  prevented 
from  drowning  if  cotton  be  loosely  stuffed  in  the  neck  of 
the  bottle  around  the  twigs.  It  is  well  to  throw  a  thin 
layer  of  dirt  over  the  cotton  so  that  fallen  larvae  can  easily 

15 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


get  back  to  their  food.  Another  device  is  shown,  in 
section,  in  Plate  IV.  It  is  made  of  plaster  of  pans.  The 
water  at  b  keeps  the  block  moist.  It  is  useful  chiefly 
for  ground-inhabiting  larvae  or  for  galls.  However,  for 
the  latter,  fruit  jars  with  moist  sand  or  a  moist  sponge  in 
the  bottom  do  just  as  well  or  better.  Do  not  forget  the 
larvae  living  in  hollow  stems,  dead  wood  and  under  bark. 
When  caterpillars  are  about  to  molt,  especially  when 
they  are  about  to  change  to  pupae,  they  stop  eating  and 
act  as  though  they  are  sick.  If  you  are  in  doubt  as  to 
how  the  species  pupates,  it  is  well  to  give  it  potting  soil 
covered  with  dead  leaves  and  some  twigs  of  their  food- 
plant,  not  merely  fresh  leaves.  A  desirable,  but  not 
necessary,  refinement  of  technique  is  to  bake  the  soil  in 
order  to  kill  bacteria  and  fimgi.  Species  which  "should" 
pupate  underground  will  get  along  fairly  well  even  if  they 
have  no  earth — much  better  than  if  they  be  covered  with 
earth  after  pupation  takes  place,  as  this  would  pack  them 
and  that  is  injurious. 

Killing 

Up  to  this  point  but  little  mention  has  been  made  of 
killing  insects  and  that  was  really  not  necessary.  Insects 
can  be  studied  alive  with  great  pleasure  and  profit.  How- 
ever, there  are  so  many  kinds  and  the  differences  between 
species  are  often  so  minute  that  it  is  well  to  kill  and 
preserve  at  least  samples.  Fortunately,  this  can  be  done 
with  less  trouble  and  less  injury  to  the  balance  of  Nature 
than  is  the  case  with  most  animals  or  even  plants.  Further- 
more, the  collection  can  be  made  very  attractive  and 
instructive  without  taking  up  much  space. 

The  best  all-around  killing  agent  for  adult  insects  is 
cyanide  of  potassium.  It  should  be  broken  into  pieces 
varying  in  size  from  that  of  a  small  pea  to  that  of  a  hickory 
nut,  according  to  the  size  of  the  bottle  to  be  used.  OUve 
bottles  make  good  medium-sized  bottles,  while  fruit  jars 
are  better  for  large-sized  moths  and  butterflies.  Tubes, 
even  as  small  as  }4  in.  in  diameter  by  about  2  in.  long, 
are  not  too  small  for  some  things.  Avoid  bottles  with 
strongly  constricted  necks.     Avoid,  also,  bottles  made  of 

16 


KILLING  BOTTLES. 


thin  glass.  There  are  many  ways  of  keeping  the  cyanide 
in  position  and  the  bottle  in  good  condition.  The  most 
general  way  is  to  pour  a  thin  layer  of  plaster  of  pans  over 
a  layer  (from  }i  to  V^  ii^-  deep)  of  cyanide.  However, 
since  such  a  bottle  will  quickly  get  too  moist  from  the 
specimens  and  the  decomposition  of  the  cyanide,  some 
further  device  is  almost  always  used.  The  pieces  of 
cyanide  may  be  wrapped  in  soft  absorbent  paper  or 
imbedded  in  dry  sawdust  before  the  plaster  is  poured  on. 
Another  way  is  to  imbed  it  in  dry  plaster  before  pouring 
on  the  wet.  A  piece  of  blotting  paper  should  be  fitted 
tightly  over  the  plaster  after  it  has  "set. "  See  Plate  III. 
Some  do  not  use  plaster  but  imbed  the  cyanide  in  cotton 
and  cover  this  with  a  piece  of  blotting  paper  or  a  thin 
porous  cork.  A  dangerous,  but  otherwise  fairly  satis- 
factory, method  is  to  imbed  a  piece  of  cyanide  on  the  inside 
surface  of  the  cork  and  have  none  in  the  bottle  itself. 
This  bottle  will  be  dry  but  not  strong,  and  as  the  cork 
will,  in  time,  become  saturated  with  poison  it  will  be  very 
dangerous.  It  is  always  well  to  have  a  few  narrow  strips 
of  loose  absorbent  paper  in  the  bottle.  They  prevent 
injury  to  the  insects  by  shaking  and  help  keep  the  bottle 
dry,  as  they  can  be  frequently  changed.  As  ordinarily 
made,  a  bottle  should  be  allowed  to  ripen  for  several  days 
before  using.  If  wanted  at  once,  put  a  few  drops  of 
vinegar  or  a  pinch  of  boracic  acid  powder  with  the  cyanide. 
Collectors  of  delicate  moths  and  butterflies  frequently 
put  a  few  drops  of  ether  or  chloroform  in  their  cyanide 
bottles  before  starting  out.  This  is  to  quiet  the  insects  at 
once  for  the  cyanide  sometimes  kills  slowly.  Experience 
will  teach  the  collector  that  some  insects  die  very  slowly 
and  revive  after  apparent  death.  On  the  other  hand, 
ether  and  chloroform  make  insects  brittle  and  too  long  an 
exposure  to  cyanide  fumes  changes  the  color  of  some 
insects. 

Practically  all  beetles  and  dragon  flies,  together  with 
dull-colored,  hairless  insects  of  other  orders,  can  be  killed 
in  alcohol  and  kept  there  indefinitely.  Fifty  %  is  strong 
enough  for  killing  and  70%  for  preserving.  Higher 
grades  make  them  brittle.  No  fly,  bee,  butterfly,  moth, 
or  any  green  insect,  other  than  those  previously  mentioned, 

17 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


should  be  put  into  alcohol.  In  an  emergency,  kerosene, 
gasoline,  or  benzine,  put  on  the  thorax,  will  kill  and  give 
satisfactory  specimens.  Pounded  laurel  leaves  and  peach 
pits  make  a  weak  killing  agent,  and  butterflies  and^moths 
may  be  killed  by  carefully  but  firmly  pinching  the  thorax 
between  the  thumb  and  finger,  one  on  each  side.  In  fact, 
many  collectors  of  these  insects  pinch  their  captures  before 
taking  them  out  of  the  net.  This  prevents  their  injuring 
themselves  by  thrashing  about. 

Mounting 

The  stock  method  is  pinning.  The  almost  universally 
adopted  pin  is  i>^  in.  long,  and  has  a  very  small  head.  It 
varies  in  thickness  from  extremely  slender  to  as  thick  as  an 
ordinary  pin.  The  useful  sizes  are  from  No.  o  to  No.  3. 
They  are  either  plain  "white"  or  enameled  black.  Much 
is  to  be  said  for  both,  with  the  voting  probably  in  favor  of 
black.  At  any  rate,  they  should  snap  back  when  bent  a 
reasonable  amount.  A  pin  that  bends  easily  and  stays 
bent  produces  profanity.  Beetles  are  usually  pinned 
through  the  right  wing-cover.  All  other  insects,  when 
pinned,  are  pinned  through  the  thorax.  In  the  case  of 
flies  it  is  well  to  pin  a  trifle  to  the  right  of  the  middle  line, 
as  the  bristles  on  the  back  are  important  in  taxonomy  and 
one  side  of  the  body  should  be  perfect.  True  bugs  should 
be  pinned  through  the  triangular  portion  of  the  thorax 
which  is  between  the  wings. 

Very  small  insects  are  usually  moimted  on  the  tip  of 
paper  triangles,  a  medium-sized  pin  being  stuck  through 
the  broad  end  of  the  triangle.  The  triangles  are  of  about 
as  many  sizes  as  there  are  collectors.  A  ticket-punch  can 
be  purchased  which  has  a  die  suitable  for  cutting  these 
triangles.  However,  if  they  be  cut  out  with  scissors  or  a 
sharp  knife  a  variety  of  sizes  and  shapes  suited  to  different 
insects  can  easily  be  made.  The  best  way  is  to  cut 
tough,  rather  stiff  paper  into  strips  about  .4  inch  wide  and 
then  snip  off  triangles  from  them  by  making  transverse 
cuts.  It  is  well  to  pin  up  a  quantity  of  these  triangles  in 
odd  moments  and  keep  them  on  hand.  When  ready  to 
mount,  put  a  small  bit  of  white  shellac  dissolved  in  alcohol, 

18 


MOUNTING  INSECTS. 


or  of  some  good  elastic  glue,  on  the  tip  ot  a  triangle  and 
touch  it  to  the  underside  of  the  thorax.  Some  difficulty 
will  be  experienced  in  keeping  the  insect  straight  on  the 
point,  especially  if  the  adhesive  be  too  thin.  The  triangles 
for  ants  should  be  fairly  broad  at  the  "point,"  and  the 
front  end  of  the  abdomen  as  well  as  the  thorax  should  be 
supported. 

The  method  just  mentioned  is  almost  universally  used 
for  small  beetles.  Small  flies  and  the  like  are  frequently 
mounted  on  "minuten  nadeln."  These  are  short,  very 
dehcate,  headless  pins.  Bits  of  pith,  cork,  or  firm  blotting 
paper  (used  edgewise),  serve  to  connect  nadel  and  a 
regular  pin.  The  nadel  may  be  stuck  through  the  insect 
and  then  into  the  support.  A  somewhat  better  plan  is  to 
arrange  a  nimiber  in  advance  by  sticking  the  nadel  through 
the  support  from  below,  leaving  the  point  stick  up;  then 
mounting  can  be  rapidly  done  by  piercing  the  insects 
from  below.  It  is  well,  in  this  case,  to  stop  before  the 
point  comes  entirely  through  the  back  as  then  no  pin 
shows  and  furthermore  the  characters  on  the  back  are  not 
marred.  "Minuten  nadeln"  have  the  advantage  over 
glue  on  triangles  that  the  glue  does  not  always  hold.  On 
the  other  hand,  they  cannot  be  used  with  many  hard- 
shelled  beetles.  Elbow  pins  are  sometimes  used  but  are, 
as  a  rule,  not  very  satisfactory.  All  mounts  mentioned  in 
this  paragraph  are  usually  put  on  the  left  side  of  the  pin. 

The  height  of  the  insects  on  the  pin  is  important  for  the 
final  appearance  of  the  collection.  A  strip  of  cardboard 
whose  width  is  yi  to  Vs  the  length  of  the  pin  makes  a 
convenient  gauge.  With  one  edge  held  at  the  head  of  the 
pin  push  the  insect  up  until  it  touches  the  other  edge. 
Or  a  block  of  wood  containing  a  hole  whose  depth  is  % 
to  V3  the  length  of  the  pin  may  be  used.  Devices  for 
regulating  the  height  by  sticking  the  point  of  the  pin  into 
a  gauge  are  not  satisfactory  because  of  the  varying  thick- 
ness of  the  specimens. 

Moimting  insects  in  balsam  on  glass  slides  will  probably 
not  be  taken  up  by  the  general  collector  imless  he  be  al- 
ready accustomed  to  making  balsam  mounts.  It  is, 
however,  the  only  satisfactory  method  of  getting  extremely 
small  forms  ready  for  study. 

19 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


In  collections,  butterflies  and  moths  usually  have  all 
four  wings  expanded  to  their  utmost  and  more  or  less  in 
line  with  the  lateral  axis  of  the  creature's  body.  This 
makes  a  nice-looking  collection  and  is  the  best  that  can 
be  done  with  most  butterflies.  However,  many  moths 
have  natural  rest  positions  which  are  not  only  interesting 
but  save  space.  It  is  well,  therefore,  to  expand  the  wings 
of  the  left  side  so  that  the  markings  on  both  front  and  hind 
wings  show,  but  to  leave  the  right  wings  in  the  natural  rest 
position.  The  reason  for  expanding  the  left  side,  rather 
than  the  right,  and  for  putting  the  triangles,  etc.,  on  the 
left  side  is  that  most  people  are  right-handed.  This 
arrangement  makes  it  easy  to  use  the  pinning  forceps  with 
the  right  hand.  For  the  same  reason,  when  the  wings  on 
one  side  of  grasshoppers,  wasps,  etc.,  are  to  be  spread,  the 
left  wings  should  be  selected  for  the  purpose.  Pinning  for- 
ceps are  strong  forceps  with  broad,  roughened  ends  and  are 
useful  for  pushing  the  pins  into  the  cork  of  the  storage  boxes. 

The  most  common  form  of  spreading  board  is  illustrated 
in  Plate  IV.  The  sides  are  made  of  soft  wood.  In  the 
bottom  of  the  central  channel  is  a  piece  of  soft  cork.  After 
pinning  the  insect,  push  the  pin  into  this  central  cork  tmtil 
the  back  of  the  insect  is  nearly  flush  with  the  board. 
Then  draw  the  wings  to  the  desired  position  by  means  of 
forceps  or  of  a  fine  needle  caught  in  the  strong  front  margin 
of  the  wings.  Never  use  the  fingers  on  moths  and  butter- 
flies, as  this  will  rub  off  the  scales  which  cover  the  wings 
and  give  color  to  them.  The  wings  may  be  kept  in  position 
by  means  of  fine  pins,  or  bits  of  heavy  glass,  or  strips  of 
tracing  cloth  held  in  place  by  pins  placed  outside  of  the 
wings.  A  combination  of  the  last  two  methods,  glass  on 
paper,  is  best.  It  is  well  to  have  a  number  of  boards  with 
grooves  of  different  widths  for  use  with  different-sized 
insects.  The  same  plate  shows  a  setting  board  devised 
by  Mr.  Chas.  E.  Sleight — and  perhaps  by  others — for 
spreading  caddice  flies  and  other  insects  when  it  is  desired 
to  have  the  legs  spread  as  well.  The  holes  running  down 
the  center  are  just  large  enough  to  accommodate  that  part 
of  the  pin  which  is  above  the  insect.  The  wings  are 
spread  as  before,  except  that  now  the  under  side  is  visible 
to  the  worker  and  the  legs  are  accessible. 

20 


Plate  IV 


21 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Should  insects  get  dry  and  stiff  before  they  are  spread, 
they  must  be  relaxed.  This  is  done  by  putting  them  in  a 
covered  jar  or  tin  box  containing  water  or  moist  blotting 
paper.  A  few  drops  of  carbolic  acid  added  to  the  water 
will  prevent  mold.  Twenty-four  hours  will  usually  be 
sufficient  to  relax  even  the  driest,  but  more  time  may 
sometimes  be  necessary.  If  the  insect  has  neither  scales 
nor  hairs,  it  can  be  quickly  relaxed  by  immersing  it  in 
warm  water. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  both  of  the  setting  boards  illus- 
trated here  give  the  wings  a  slight  upward  tilt.  If  they 
keep  this  position,  it  will  not  be  objectionable,  but  they 
are  not  likely  to  do  so,  since  the  weight  cf  the  wings  will 
probably  drop  them  at  least  to  the  horizontal.  Large 
insects  dry  more  slowly  than  small  ones  and  it  will  prob- 
ably be  necessary  to  allow  them  to  remain  on  the  boards 
for  about  two  weeks.  They  should  certainly  remain  until 
thoroughly  dried.  No  further  preservation  is  then 
necessary,  as  a  rule,  for  the  fairly  hard-bodied,  adult 
insects.  Some  tropical  grasshoppers  have  large  abdomens 
full  of  fat  and  decomposing  food.  These  should  first  be 
opened  by  an  incision  along  the  belly,  the  viscera  taken 
out,  and  the  abdomen  stuffed  with  cotton. 

Broken  insects  may  be  repaired  by  the  use  of  shellac 
or  thin  glue. 

Caterpillars  may  be  prepared  in  the  following  way: 
Make  a  circular  incision  at  the  hind  end,  cutting  the  in- 
testine loose  from  the  outer  body  wall.  Then,  laying  the 
caterpillar  on  a  piece  of  clean  blotting  paper,  squeeze  the 
viscera  through  this  opening  by  gently  rolling  the  cater- 
pillar with  a  lead  pencil,  beginning  near  the  hind  end  and 
gradually  working  toward  the  front.  After  the  viscera 
have  been  gotten  rid  of,  for  the  most  part,  insert  a  straw 
and  fasten  the  first  segment  of  the  larva  to  the  end  of  the 
straw  by  means  of  a  fine  needle.  Draw  the  hind  segment 
up  the  straw  until  the  larva  is  natural  length  and  fasten  it 
in  the  same  manner.  Then,  inflate  the  larva  by  gently 
blowing  through  the  straw.  Since  the  front  end  of  the 
straw  may  get  plugged  up,  it  is  well  to  make  a  small  hole 
in  the  side  of  the  straw  before  it  is  inserted.  This  hole 
had.best  come  about  midway  between  the  larva's  head  and 

22 


NOTES  AND  LABELS. 


tail.  Since  inflation  must  be  kept  up  until  the  larva's 
skin  is  dried,  gentle  heat  is  usually  used.  A  tin  can,  with 
holes  punched  in  it  for  ventilation  and  heated  by  an 
alcohol  lamp,  makes  a  good  oven,  or  one  can  be  purchased. 
Dealers  also  sell  bellows,  tubing,  clips,  etc.,  to  make  the 
work  of  inflating  easier.  However  inflated,  green  larvae 
are  apt  to  lose  their  color,  for  it  is  chlorophyll  which  fades 
rapidly.  Slow-drying  paints  relax  the  skin  and  distort  it. 
Therefore,  if  painting  is  done,  the  pigments  should  be 
mixed  with  benzine  or  the  like. 

Field  Notes  and  Labels 


It  is  only  by  the  greatest  chance  that  the  begiimer  gets  a 
new  or  even  rare  species  on  ground  that  has  been  worked 
over  by  experienced  collectors,  but  even  the  primary  class 
in  entomology  may  add  to  our  store  of  knowledge  if  it 
keeps  field  notes  well.  Date  of  capture  and  locality  are 
considered  of  prime  importance.  They  should  always  be 
known  and  kept  with  every  specimen,  but  the  distribution 
and  time  of  appearance  of  our  more  common  species  are 
known.  It  is  of  their  habits  that  we  are  ignorant.  What 
do  they  feed  on?  Under  what  conditions  are 
they  to  be  foimd  when  young  and  when  old,  day 
and  night,  winter  and  summer?  What  do  they 
do  and  how  do  they  do  it?  Some  system  of 
keeping  notes  is  imperative  if  your  collection  is 
to  be  worth  while. 

The  pin  label  should  be  small  but  legible. 
Certain  firms  make  a  business  of  printing  these 
labels  from  small  type,  or  the  collector  can  make 
up  a  sheet  by  means  of  an  ordinary  typewriter 
(black  ink  is  best)  and  have  a  block  made  from 
this,  greatly  reduced  in  size.  From  this  block 
any  nxmiber  of  impressions  can  be  made.  Any 
printer  will  attend  to  the  whole  business. 
Sample  strips  are  shown  in  the  margin.  If  dates 
are  not  printed,  they  should  be  filled  in  before 
cutting  the  labels  apart.  Field  numbers  can  be 
written  on  the  back  of  these  labels  or  put  on  a 
separate  label.     The  collector's  name  can  also 

23 


Tukeit,  BG 

191 
Tulceit,  Hg 

191 
Tukeit,  BG, 

191 
Tukeit,  BG 

191 
Tukeit,  BG 

191 
Tukeit,  BG 

191 
Tukeit,  BG 

191 
Tukeit,  BG 

191 
Tukeit,  BG 

191 
Tukeit,  BG 

191 


ManatiP.R. 

Mch  5'i4 
ManatiP.R. 

Mch  5*14 
ManatiP.R. 

Mch  5'i4 
ManatiP.R. 

Mch  s'14 
ManatiP.R. 

Mch  5'i4 
ManatiP.R. 

Mch  5'i4 
ManatiP.R. 

Mch  s'14 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


be  put  on  a  separate  label.  Similar  labels  should  all 
be  the  same  height  on  the  pin  throughout  the  collec- 
tion. This  is  easily  accomplished  by  sticking  the  pin 
first  through  the  label  then  into  a  hole  of  a  given  depth 
or  cork  of  a  given  thickness,  thus  pushing  the  labels  up 
to  a  uniform  height. 

Storage  Boxes  and  Care  of  Collection 

Since  certain  members  of  a  family  of  beetles  (Der- 
mestidae)  are  given  to  eating  dried  insects,  the  storage 
boxes  should  have  tight-fitting  lids.  Except  for  that, 
almost  anything  will  do.  Cigar  boxes  are  not  bad  if 
carefully  watched,  but  better  boxes  can  be  purchased  at 
reasonable  prices  from  dealers.  Glass-topped  drawers 
are  nice  but  not  necessary.  Whatever  sort  of  box  is  used, 
the  bottom,  inside,  should  be  covered  with  something 
which  is  soft  enough  to  allow  a  pin  to  enter  easily  but 
which  will  hold  the  pin  when  it  is  once  in.  The  com- 
pressed cork  of  the  dealers  is  best.  Sliced  cornstalk  is 
used  by  some  beginners  but  two  layers  of  the  corrugated 
paper,  such  as  bottles  are  packed  in,  is  better  than  corn- 
pith.  The  layers  should  be  placed  so  that  the  corrugations 
run  at  right  angles  to  each  other. 

In  spite  of  precaution,  Dermestids  may  get  in;  although 
camphor  balls  or  flaked  naphthalene  will  help  to  keep  them 
out.  If  camphor  balls  are  used,  first  heat  the  head  of  an 
ordinary  pin  and,  while  hot,  push  the  head  into  the  ball. 
When  cool,  it  will  be  solid  and  the  ball  can  be  pinned  into 
the  box.  If  Dermestids  do  get  in,  they  may  be  killed  by 
pouring  into  the  box  about  a  teaspoonful  of  carbon  bisul- 
phide and  closing  the  lid  down  tightly.  Remember  that 
the  bisulphide  is  very  inflammable. 

Packing  Insects  in  the  Field 

It  frequently  happens  that  the  collector  cannot  attend 
to  his  catch  at  once,  or  possibly  for  months.  Of  course 
those  things  which  are  collected  in  alcohol  may  remain 
there.  Butterflies  and  the  like  should  be  put  into  tri- 
angular envelopes.     The  manner  of  making  these  is  shown 

24 


Plate  V 


25 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


in  Plate  V.  Never  put  more  than  one  specimen  in  an 
envelope.  Other  insects  can  be  packed  between  layers  of 
cotton  and  cheese-cloth,  with  naphthalene  flakes  put  in 
to  keep  out  ants,  etc.,  or  they  can  be  put  in  sawdust.  In 
the  latter  case  it  is  well  to  sprinkle  carbolic  acid  on  the 
sawdust  to  prevent  mold.  An  excellent  method  of 
packing  insects  (except  butterflies  and  moths)  which  are 
to  be  dried,  is  to  make  tubes  of  unglazed  paper  aroimd  a 
lead  pencil,  after  writing  the  data  on  that  part  of  the 
paper  which  comes  outside.  One  end  is  closed  by  folding 
in  the  paper  there,  and  then  the  tube  is  nearly  filled  with 
freshly  killed  insects.  Finally,  the  other  end  is  closed  by 
folding  in  the  paper.  These  tubes  and  the  triangular 
envelopes  can  be  packed  in  a  cigar  box  and,  if  sprinkled 
with  naphthalene  to  keep  out  ants  and  Dermestids,  will 
keep  indefinitely.  Never  pack  moist  insects  in  a  tin  box 
and  never  close  even  a  wooden  box  tightly  if  there  are 
many  moist  insects  in  it.     Mold  will  result  if  you  do. 

Identification 

For  this  work  a  magnifying  glass  of  some  sort  is  usually 
necessary  except  for  the  larger  Lepidoptera,  and  even  with 
these  it  is  useful  when  mouth-parts,  and  the  like,  are  to  be 
examined.  If  you  collect  at  all  extensively,  you  will  get 
many  species  which  are  not  mentioned  here,  at  least  in 
sufficient  detail  to  enable  you  to  fix  on  their  names. 
Separate  these  into  their  orders  and,  if  possible,  famihes 
and  even  genera.  Then  await  your  chance  to  consult 
more  technical  books,  or  identified  collections.  Possibly 
you  can  arrange  to  have  some  specialist  identify  them 
for  you,  but  this  deprives  you  of  the  pleasure  and  benefit 
of  doing  it  yourself.  Furthermore,  specialists  usually 
have  more  than  they  can  do,  although  they  frequently  are 
willing  to  look  over  collections  which  are  not  too  mis- 
cellaneous for  the  privilege  of  retaining  duplicates  of  the 
species  they  identify.  If  the  species  is  undescribed,  they 
usually  vAsh  to  describe  it  and  keep  a  set,  one  specimen  of 
which  is  designated  a  "type"  of  that  species.  A  very 
large  majority  of  entomologists  are  kind,  helpful  individ- 
uals; I  merely  wish  to  say  that  laymen  are  often  unwit- 
tingly unreasonable  in  their  requests. 

26 


ABOUT  KEYS. 

Such  keys  as  are  given  here  are,  for  the 
most  part,  simplified  versions  of  keys  in 
special,  more  technical,  books  and  papers.  They  have 
been  simplified  in  two  ways:  by  leaving  out  forms  which 
are  not  very  likely  to  attract  the  notice  of  beginners  or 
whose  separation  involves  too  great  technicalities,  and  by 
using,  as  far  as  possible,  easily  appreciated  cliaracters 
even  though  they  may  not  be,  otherwise,  the  best  charac- 
ters to  use.  The  result  of  the  first  simplification  is  that 
forms  will  be  found  which  do  not  fit  anything  in  the  key 
although  they  may  come  close  to  it.  An  attempt  has  been 
made  to  word  the  keys  so  that  forms  which  were  not 
intended  to  be  included  will  not  fit  anywhere,  thus  avoid- 
ing a  misidentification.  This  attempt  has  not  always 
been  completely  successful,  especially  for  southern  and 
west-of-the-Mississippi  forms.  Working  a  key  backward, 
from  the  name  to  the  start,  usually  gives  so  good  a  de- 
scription of  the  form  in  question  that  it  is  not  further 
described  in  the  text. 

Start  at  i  and  decide  which  of  the  two 
How  to  Use  a  ^^^  more)  alternatives  best  agrees  with  the 
specimen;  then  go  to  the  number  indicated 
at  the  right;  continue  this  process  until  a  name  without  a 
following  number  is  reached.  Do  not  take  too  mtich  for 
granted.  If  a  thing  is  said  in  one  alternative  to  be  black, 
it  is  not  necessarily  not  black  in  the  other  imless  this  is 
definitely  stated.  If  you  reach  a  point  where  neither 
alternative  fits,  go  back  to  the  place  where  you  had  most 
doubt  concerning  a  choice  and  take  the  other  alternative; 
perhaps  the  statements  were  not  sufficiently  clear  and  you 
made  a  wrong  choice.  If  nothing  works,  it  would  be 
kind  of  you  to  conclude  that  you  have  a  species  which  was 
not  included  in  the  key,  although  the  fact  of  the  matter  is 
that  it  is  next  to  impossible  to  draw  up  a  relatively  simple 
key  which  will  not  sometimes  stick  in  the  lock. 

The  Control  of  injurious  Insects 

This  section  may  seem  out  of  place  in  a  Field  Book, 
but  the  garden  is  a  part  of  the  "field"  as  far  as  insects  are 

27 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


concerned.  I  once  made  an  at-first-sight  rash  statement 
to  the  effect  that,  every  year,  at  least  five  hundred  species 
of  insects  are  naturally  in  my  back  yard  near  New  York 
City.  Some  day  I  hope  to  prove  it.  Some  of  these 
insects  are  not  welcome.  Although  the  American  Museum 
has  no  department  of  economic  entomology,  many  of  the 
inquiries,  which  are  made  there  about  insects,  concern 
methods  of  control.  I  suppose,  therefore,  that  "you," 
also,  may  have  unwelcome  insect  visitors  and  would  like 
some  hints  concerning  their  control. 

If  the  injury  is  serious,  write  to  your  State  Entomologist 
or  to  the  Bureau  of  Entomology  of  the  U.  S.  Department 
of  Agriculture.  They,  especially  the  State  Entomologist, 
should  know  about  serious  outbreaks;  they  are  fitted  by 
training  and  constant  work  along  these  lines  to  give  good 
advice  and,  if  the  occasion  demands  it,  personal  super- 
vision. Furthermore,  you  have  a  right  to  do  this;  you 
help  to  pay  the  salaries. 

Few  insects  are  injurious  in  all  the  stages  of  their  life- 
history,  and  every  one  will  admit  that  the  fight  against 
injurious  insects  should  start  before  the  injury  begins. 
Mosquitoes  and  flies  should  be  killed  before  they  can  fly; 
the  first  meal  of  leaf-feeders  should  be  their  last,  even  if 
they  get  that.  All  this  requires  a  knowledge  of  the  life- 
histories  so  that  we  may  know  the  best  time  to  fight. 
Fall  or  winter  plowing  may  uncover  pupae  which  are 
hibernating  in  the  ground,  and  kill  them.  If  the  insect 
passes  the  winter  in  the  egg  stage,  spraying,  provided 
spraying  will  kill  the  larvae,  should  be  done  just  as  the 
eggs  hatch.  Therefore,  we  should  know  when  that  will  be. 
This  your  State  Entomologist  can  tell  you  for  your  par- 
ticular locality  and  I  can  not. 

Predaceous  and  parasitic  insects  are  now  "the  one  best 
bet "  in  economic  entomology.  Why  cover  our  vegetation 
with  poison  year  after  year  if  we  can  set  insect  friends  to 
killing  insect  enemies?  This,  again,  is  work  for  the  pro- 
fessional economic  entomologist,  although  I  have  tried  to 
help  you  to  distinguish  friends  from  enemies. 

If  possible,  prevent  breeding.  This  applies  especially  to 
such  enemies  as  mosquitoes  and  flies.  Why  live  ina  wire-and- 
wood  cage  when  draining  swamps,  putting  fish  in  ponds, 

28 


INSECTICIDES. 

and  similar  preventive  measures  will  control  mosquitoes, 
and  general  cleaning  up  will  do  away  with  flies?  Many- 
insect  enemies  of  cultivated  plants  breed  on  weeds.  Either 
treat  the  "weeds"  as  cultivated  plants  or  get  rid  of  them. 

Insecticides  may  be  roughly  divided  into  four  classes: 
stomach  poisons,  contact  insecticides,  repellants  and  gases. 

Stomach  poisons  are  for  such  insects  as  chew  vegetation. 
Nearly  all  of  them  contain  arsenic  in  some  combination 
and,  if  there  be  too  much  water-soluble  arsenic,  will  burn 
the  foliage.  Now  that  insecticides  are  under  government 
supervision,  it  is  fairly  safe  to  buy  any  standard  brand 
and  use  it  according  to  the  directions  on  the  package — 
these  notes  are  for  home-gardeners  who  would  buy  insecti- 
cides in  small  quantities  and  such  quantities  should  not 
be  purchased  "loose."  These  directions  will  almost 
certainly  call  for  lime,  in  order  to  neutralize  the  traces  of 
soluble  arsenic,  and  possibly  resin-soap  to  make  the  poison 
stick  to  the  leaves  better.  In  spraying,  cover  every  part 
of  every  leaf,  if  possible.  For  house-plants,  an  ordinary 
medicine  atomizer  is  excellent.  For  garden  plants,  get  a 
spray  fitted  to  the  number  and  size  of  the  plants  to  be 
sprayed.  Poisoned  Bran  Mash  for  grasshoppers,  cut- 
worms and  the  like,  is  made  by  mixing  i  part,  by  weight, 
of  Paris-green  or  London-purple  with  25  parts  of  bran  and 
enough  cheap  molasses,  diluted  to  about  half -strength  with 
water,  to  make  a  stiff  paste. 

Paris-green,  etc.,  will  poison  humans  if  enough  be  eaten, 
but  it  is  estimated,  for  example,  that  one  must  eat  twenty- 
eight  cabbages  (that  have  been  sprayed  or  dusted  in  the 
ordinary  way)  in  order  to  swallow  enough  poison  to  be 
harmful.  Hellebore  is  sometimes  used  because  it  is  less 
poisonous  to  man  and  to  other  animals  with  less  than  six 
legs,  but  it  is  expensive  and  deteriorates  with  age.  It  may 
be  used  dry,  diluted  with  about  8  parts  of  flour,  or  as  a 
spray,  one  ounce  to  a  gallon  of  water.  If  poisons  are 
applied  dry,  the  application  should  be  made  on  a  still 
morning  before  the  dew  has  dried. 

Contact  insecticides  are  used  against  sap-sucking 
insects,  which  would  stick  their  proboscis  right  through  a 
layer  of  stomach  poison  and  not  be  bothered  by  it.  Chief 
among  such  insects  are  the  aphids.     Contact  insecticides 

29 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS, 


are  also  effective  against  such  leaf-chewing  insects  as  have 
thin  skins.  A  corrosive  insecticide  which  is  strong  enough 
to  kill  an  insect  having  a  thick  skin  will  kill  the  leaves  also. 
Scale  insects,  except  when  young  and  scaleless,  will  resist 
any  insecticide  that  leaves  resist.  Therefore,  strong 
solutions  (such  as  lime-sulphur)  must  be  used  on  them 
before  the  buds  break.  Some  contact  insecticides  work 
by  clogging  up  the  insects'  breathing  apparatus  (tracheae) 
rather  than  by  corrosion.  All  contact  insecticides  should 
be  applied,  if  possible,  directly  on  the  insect.  It  is  usually 
a  waste  to  spray  them  on  leaves  that  are  not  affected. 

Kerosene  is  very  effective  and  may  be  applied  pure 
about  chicken  houses  and  against  bedbugs,  but  not  on 
plants.  For  plants,  an  emulsion  is  used  which  can  be 
purchased  or  may  be  made  as  follows:  "Dissolve  ^ 
pound  of  hard  or  whale-oil  soap  (or  i  quart  soft  soap)  in 
I  gallon  of  boiling  water.  Add  2  gallons  of  kerosene  and 
churn  with  a  force  pimip  by  pumping  back  and  forth  for 
five  to  ten  minutes  until  the  oil  is  thoroughly  emulsified, 
forming  a  creamy  mass  with  no  drops  of  free  oil  visible. 
This  stock  solution  is  now  diluted  so  that  the  resulting 
mixture  will  contain  the  desired  per  cent  of  kerosene. 
Thus  for  aphids  one  part  of  the  stock  solution  should  be 
diluted  with  from  10  to  15  parts  of  water,  giving  from  4  to 
6  per  cent  of  kerosene  in  the  spray,  while  for  a  winter  wash 
for  San  Jos^  scale,  it  should  be  diluted  only  three  or  four 
times  giving  from  16  to  22  per  cent  kerosene.  The  emul- 
sion must  be  thoroughly  churned  and  should  be  applied 
with  a  nozzle  throwing  a  fine  spray"  (Sanderson). 

Ordinar}'-  laundry  soap,  one-half  pound  to  a  gallon  of 
water,  is  a  good  insecticide.  Whale-oil  soap  is,  perhaps,  a 
little  better.  There  are  many  brands  of  miscible  oil 
which  are  very  good.  Lime-sulphur  wash  is  used  chiefly 
against  the  San  ]os6  scale  and  is  rather  difficult  to  make  at 
home.     Pure  sulphur  dust  is  effective  against  "red  spider. " 

Pyrethrum,  or  Persian  insect  powder,  is  much  used 
about  houses  as  it  is  not  poisonous  and  does  not  injure 
fabrics,  but  it  deteriorates  with  age.  It  works  by  suffo- 
cating the  insect. 

A  tobacco  tea  made  by  boiling  or  steeping  a  pound  of 
tobacco  leaves  and  stems  in  one  or  two  gallons  of  water  is 

30 


INSECTICIDES. 

used  as  a  spray  against  aphids  and  other  soft-bodied 
insects.  House-plants  may  be  dipped  in  this  solution 
after  it  has  cooled. 

Among  the  repellants,  tobacco  dust,  air-slacked  lime, 
soot,  and  even  fine  road-dust  may  be  mentioned  but  they 
are  effective  only  so  long  as  the  plants  are  covered  with 
them.  "Fruit  trees  are  often  painted  with  a  thick  soap 
solution  containing  i  pint  of  crude  carbolic  acid  to  lo 
gallons  as  a  repellant  for  the  adult  borers  which  lay  their 
eggs  on  the  bark."  Tanglefoot  is  a  sticky  paste  such  as  is 
used  on  fly-paper  and,  if  a  tree-trunk  be  encircled  with  it, 
crawling  insects,  such  as  caterpillars,  will  be  kept  from 
getting  up.  Do  not  be  taken  in  by  the  charlatans  who 
bore  holes  in  trees  and  then  plug  them  with  something  or 
other,  on  the  theory  that  the  sap  will  take  up  the  poison  and 
carry  it  to  the  leaves. 

The  principal  insecticidal  gases  are  carbon  bisulphide, 
hydrocyanic  acid,  and  the  fumes  of  burning  tobacco  and 
sulphur.  Carbon  bisulphide  is  bad  smelUng,  and  will  cause 
a  headache  if  inhaled,  and  is  very  explosive  but,  if  used 
with  caution,  is  good  for  fumigating  closets,  entomological 
collections,  and  against  boring  and  root-feeding  pests,  also 
to  put  in  ants'  nests.  In  buildings  "there  should  be  i  square 
foot  of  evaporating  surface  to  every  25  square  feet  of  floor 
area,  and  each  square  foot  of  evaporating  surface  should 
receive  from  one-half  to  i  pound  of  liquid."  Hydrocyanic 
acid  gas  is  so  poisonous  that  I  will  not  risk  giving  directions. 
If  you  want  them,  write  to  your  State  entomologist  or  to 
the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture.  If  sulphur  be  burned 
at  the  rate  of  two  pounds  per  thousand  cubic  feet  of  space 
it  is  said  to  be  effective  against  bedbugs  and  the  like,  but  it 
will  not  kill  the  eggs,  whereas  kerosene  will.  Furthermore, 
it  bleaches  fabrics,  if  they  be  at  all  moist,  and  kills  plants, 
if  it  be  too  strong.     Tobacco  fumes  are  safe  ad  lib. 

Fanner's  Bulletin,  127  of  the  U.  S.  Department  of 
Agriculture  tells  a  great  deal  about  insecticides.  This 
same  Department  will  send  you,  free,  a  monthly  bulletin 
which  gives  a  Hst  of  their  pubhcations.  Many  of  the 
publications  have  interesting  accounts  of  insect  life- 
histories  and  are  worth  having,  even  if  the  economic 
phase  of  the  question  does  not  appeal  to  you. 

31 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Classes  of 
Arthropoda 


CHIEFLY  ABOUT   SPIDERS 

Animals  having  no  backbone  but  jointed 
legs  are  called  Arthropoda.  Some  of  these 
have  two  pairs  of  antennse  ("feelers")  and 
at  least  five  pairs  of  legs;  these  are  Crustacea  and  include 
lobsters,  crabs,  crayfish,  sow-bugs,  and  the  like.  Some 
have  no  apparent  antennae;  one  class  of  these  live  in  the 
sea  (the  "king"-  or  "horseshoe  crab")  and  another  is, 
for  the  most  part,  terrestrial,  breathing  air.  The  latter 
class  is  called  Arachnida  and  includes  spiders  and  their 
relatives.  Finally,  there  are  three  classes  the  members  of 
which  have  one  pair  of  antennas.  Two  of  them  have  more 
than  three  pairs  of  legs  and  no  wings:  the  Diplopoda,  or 
millipedes,  have  two  pairs  of  legs  on  each  of  some,  at  least, 
of  their  body  segments;  the  Chilopoda,  or  centipedes, 
have  only  one  pair  of  legs  to  a  single  segment.  The  third 
class  is  Hexapoda,  or  insects;  when  adult,  they  never 
have  more  than  three  pairs  of  legs  but  usually  have 
wings. 


Arachnida 


Some  of  the  relatives  of  spiders  have  the 
abdomen  distinctly  segmented;  if  there  is  a 
tail-like  hind  end,  it  is  a  scorpion  of  some  sort ;  if  not,  it  is,  in 
northeastern  United  States,  either  one  of  the  small  pseudo- 
scorpions  or  else  a  "  harvestman, "  also  called  "grand- 
father-graybeard, "  "daddy-long-legs,"  etc., — the  creature 
some  of  us  used  to  deprive  of  most  of  its  legs  in  order  that 
it  should  point  the  way  to  our  cows  or  to  our  home. 
Mites  and  spiders  have  unsegmented  abdomens;  mites 
have  no  constriction  of  the  body  between  the  abdomen  and 
the  leg-bearing  portion,  but  spiders  do. 

Many  of  the  not-yet-acquainted  consider 
spiders  to  be  insects  and  for  that  reason 
they  are  mentioned  here — but  briefly,  because  they  have 
no  more  claim  to  be  considered  insects  than  have  lobsters, 
except  that  they  approach  insects  in  the  matter  of  in- 
teresting habits:  home  building,  prey  catching,  mating, 
care  of  offspring,  devices  to  escape  their  enemies,  and  the 

32 


SPIDERS'  SILK. 


like.  Among  other  even  more  important  differences, 
they  have  four  pairs  of  legs;  also  the  head  and  thorax  are 
merged  in  one  piece  (cephalothorax).  A  pair  of  palpi 
are  frequently  so  developed  as  to  look  like  a  fifth  pair  of 
legs.  The  eyes  are  simple,  usually  eight  in  number,  and 
differing  in  size  and  arrangement  in  different  sorts  of 
spiders.  The  bite  of  all  spiders  is  poisonous — that  is  the 
way  they  kill  their  food — but  there  is  so  little  poison  and  so 
few  spiders  are  strong  enough  to  bite  through  the  human 
skin,  even  if  they  would  try,  that  spiders  are  not  danger- 
ous. At  the  hind  end  of  the  abdomen  are  small  appen- 
dages, the  spinnerets,  from  which  come  fluids  that  harden 
on  exposure  to  air  and  form  silk.  The  silk  of  insects  comes 
from  their  mouths. 

.  „. .  Its  uses  by  spiders,  I  mean,  although  it 

Spiders'  Silk  "^     Jf  '  ^.u       a     ■ 

and  its  Uses        ^^^  been  used  by  man  for  cross-threads  m 

telescopes  and  makes  a  better  quality  of 

textile  than    the   silk   of   moths.     One  sufficient    reason 

for  man's  not  using  it  in  the  latter  way  is  the  difficulty 

of   getting    enough   of    it.     Spiders    originally   used   silk 

only  to  wrap  up  their  masses  of  eggs  (see  Lycosa,  Plate 

VII).     Then    they    took    to   lining    their    retreats    with 

silk;  later  they  built  platforms  outside  of  their  retreats 

and  from  these  developed  the  snares  which  have  been  the 

wonder  and  admiration  of  all  ages,  humanly  speaking. 

These  snares,   even    those  which    are  orb-shaped,   differ 

greatly  among  themselves.      Most  of  the  orb-snares  are 

made   by   members   of   a    single   family,    Argiopidae    (or 

Epeiridae),  and   a   large   proportion  of  our  spiders  make 

no   snare,   catching    their    prey    by  stealth,  fleetness   of 

foot  or  length  of  jimip.     Silk  is  used  by  certain  young 

spiders  for  "ballooning";  they  stand  on  some  elevation, 

spin  a  thread  into  the  air  and,  when  the  wind  catches 

it,  sail  away.     This  is   the  explanation   of   "showers  of 

gossamer." 

This  is  not  the  place  to  go  minutely  into 

Spiders  ^^^   subject,   but  spiders  may  be  divided 

into   two   sorts:   what   are   called,    in   this 

country,   tarantulas  and  the,   strictly  speaking,   spiders. 

3  33 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


The  large,  hairy,  much-feared  tarantulas  live  in  the 
South  and  some  of  them  build  interesting  trap-door  nests. 
The  following  famihes  are  true  spiders.  The  Dictynid^e 
belong  to  a  group  having  special  attachments  on  their 
spinning  machine  by  which  they  make  hackled  bands  in 
their  webs;  most  of  the  tangled,  sheet  webs  on  the  sides  of 
houses,  especially  at  windows,  are  made  by  Dictyna  sub- 
lata.  The  Theridiid^e  have  a  well  developed  comb  on 
the  hind  legs  to  aid  in  throwing  liquid  silk  over  the  prey 
they  wish  to  entangle;  Theridion  tepidariorum  is  the 
house  spider,  the  one  which  makes  the  tangled  web  in  the 
comers  of  rooms  where  "no  beaux  will  go."  Latrodectus 
mactans,  a  jet-black  spider  marked  with  red  or  yellow, 
living  under  stones  or  pieces  of  wood,  also  belongs  to  this 
family  and  is  the  only  spider  of  northeastern  United 
States  concerning  which  there  is  even  moderate  evidence 
of  its  seriously  biting  human  beings. 

The  Argiopid^  are  the  orb  weavers,  par  excellence. 
They  usually  have  relatively  large  abdomens.  The 
maker  and  the  making  of  a  fairly  typical  web  are  shown 
in  Plate  VI,  which  is  based  upon  an  exhibit  in  the  Ameri- 
can Museum  of  Natiu-al  History.  This  spider  is  very 
common  about  buildings  and  has  had  a  variety  of  names 
of  which  Aranea  sericata  is  believed  to  be  better  usage 
than  the  more  commonly  employed  Epeira  sclopetaria. 
She  started  above  a  on  a  beam  or  twig  and  dropped, 
spinning  a  thread  as  she  went,  to  another  support  below 
&,  fastening  the  thread  there.  She  then  climbed  this 
thread  to  the  upper  support,  crossed  over  to  a  point  above 
c  and  dropped  to  a  point  below  d,  making  a  strand  as 
before.  Then,  going  to  e,  she  fastened  one  end  of  a  strand 
and,  spinning  it  behind  her,  went  across  by  way  of  the 
upper  support  to  /.  She  then  went  to  the  upper  support 
and  dropped  to  this  e-f  strand,  fastening  the  new  line  at 
h;  this  pulled  e-f  up  slightly.  The  next  strand  which  she 
put  in  was  from  i  to  a  point  on  the  lower  support  below  j; 
pulling  this  line  made  another  angle  in  g-/,  as  did  the 
following  one  from  k  to  h.  These  last  two  strands  were 
fastened  near  their  center  by  a  bit  of  silk  and  the  remain- 
ing radii  were  put  in  by  moving  about  on  the  foundation 
of  the  web.     The  next  step  in  the  operation  was  a  laying 

34 


Plate '  VI 


The  Weaving  of  oWeb 


35 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


down  of  the  primary  spiral  which  is  shown  as  ending  at  /. 
All  of  these  threads  consist  of  smooth,  tough  silk  which  is 
not  sticky.  From  this  point  on  the  spider  uses  the  sticky 
threads  which  constitute  the  real  snare.  All  the  details 
of  spinning  the  web  vary  but  the  putting  in  of  first  sticky 
threads  is  very  irregularly  done.  In  the  figure  given  here 
it  may  be  followed  from  m  to  w.  From  7t  she  continued 
in  a  regular  spiral  until  the  primary  spiral  of  smooth  silk 
was  reached.  She  then  cut  away  the  outer  portion  of  the 
primary  spiral,  so  that  she  might  have  more  room  for  the 
snare.  This  process  of  cutting  away  the  primary  spiral 
and  putting  in  the  sticky  spiral  is  shown,  in  the  fourth 
figure,  about  half  finished ;  and  finally  there  is  the  complete 
web  with  nearly  all  of  the  primary  spiral  removed.  Nearly 
every  species  has  its  own  distinct  way  of  making  webs 
and  there  are  so  many  species  of  this  family  which  are 
commonly  noticed  (especially  the  females  when  they  are 
swollen  with  eggs)  both  because  of  their  beautful  colors 
and  of  their  interesting  webs,  and  some  of  the  species  are 
so  variable,  that  not  all  of  the  probable  questions  can  be 
answered.  The  spider  an  inch  or  more  long,  marked  with 
spots  and  bands  of  bright  orange  and  usually  seen  in  the 
late  summer  hanging  on  an  orb  which  is  decorated  with  a 
zig-zag  band  of  silk  is  Miranda  aurantia,  also  called  Ar- 
giope  riparia.  A  slightly  smaller,  light  yellow  spider  with 
narrow  transverse  black  lines  on  its  abdomen  is  Metar- 
giope  trifasciata  and  also  puts  a  zig-zag  in  its  web.  Some 
species  {Micrathena  gracilis  is  shown  in  Plate  VII)  of  this 
family  have  spine-like  processes  on  their  abdomens  but 
A  ranea  is  a  fairly  safe  generic  name  to  give  to  most  of  the 
orb-weavers  generally  noticed. 

The  Thomisid^e,  or  crab-spiders,  have  the  two  front 
pairs  of  legs  relatively  heavy  and  long;  they  run  sideways. 
They  spin  no  snare  and  the  white  or  light  yellow,  some- 
times with  a  light  red  band  on  the  sides,  Misumena  vatia 
(see  Plate  VII)  is  frequently  seen  sitting  in  flowers, 
concealed  by  its  resemblance  to  the  flower  and  waiting 
to  catch  the  insects  which  come  for  pollen.  The  flat, 
lustrous,  parchment-like  egg  sacs  often  observed  on  stones 
in  pastures  belong  to  Castianeira  descripta,  one  of  the 
Clubionid^.     Agelena  navia  is  responsible  for  the  flat 

36 


Plate  VII 


Microthena 
gracilis 


Misumena 

VQtiQ 


Salticus 
Senicus 


LycosQ  and  Eqq-sac 


Spirobolus  marginatus 


iQera  lorceps 

37 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS, 


horizontal  webs  which  frequently  almost  completely 
carpet  our  lawns  but  are  usually  only  noticed  when 
covered  with  dew.  It  is  one  of  the  AcELENiDiE.  Another 
member  of  this  family  is  Tegenaria  derhami,  a  spider  which 
lives  with  man  from  the  Frigid  zone  to  the  Tropics,  making 
a  flat  sheet,  which  is  often  dust-covered,  in  the  comers  of 
cellars,  bams,  and  the  like.  The  LYCOsiDiE  are,  figura- 
tively speaking  as  well  as  literally  translating  their  name, 
Wolf -spiders.  For  the  most  part,  they  build  no  snare  but 
secure  their  prey  in  the  chase.  Some  species  dig  tunnels 
in  the  earth  for  hiding-places.  A  female  is  shown  in 
Plate  VII  carrying  her  egg  sac;  after  the  young  emerge 
they  will  ride  on  their  mother's  back,  completely  covering 
it,  until,  by  the  process  of  eating  each  other  and  any  other 
food  they  can  secure,  they  are  able  to  shift  for  themselves. 
Finally  we  come  to  the  Attid^,  Jumping  Spiders,  of  small 
size,  numerous  in  species  and  replete  with  interest  because 
of  their  beauty,  their  mating  habits,  their  occasional 
mimicry  of  ants  and  other  things  concerning  which  you  are 
referred,  first  of  all,  to  Nature.  If  you  see  a  small  spider 
springing  about,  sometimes  sideways  or  backwards,  on  a 
fence  rail  or  the  sunny  side  of  a  building,  it  is  probably  an 
Attid  (possibly  Salticus  senicus;  see  Plate  VII)  and  will 
repay  further  study. 

The  large,  commonly  observed  Spiroholus 
'^  °^°  *  (Plate  VII)  is  a  typical  Milliped.     There 

are  a  number  of  smaller  species  in  our  gardens.  These 
creatures  feed  on  vegetable  matter  and  are  absolutely 
harmless.  When  disturbed,  they  curl  up  into  a  spiral 
and  sometimes  exude  a  defensive  fluid. 

The  bite  of  all  Centipedes  is  poisonous  and 
that  of  large  species  is  dangerous.  The 
only  common  sort  in  the  North  is  Scutigera  forceps  (Plate 
VII).  It  Hves  in  houses,  feeding  upon  flies,  cockroaches 
and  other  insects.  Dr.  Felt  says  "its  presence  in  a  house 
should  be  welcomed,  since  it  is  capable  of  inflicting  no 
injury  aside  from  a  somewhat  poisonous  bite,  the  latter 
being  extremely  rare."  I  confess  that  any  found  in  our 
house  get  stepped  on. 

38 


SILVER-FISH  OR  FISH-MOTH 


INSECTS 


For  certain  distinctive  characteristics  of  insects  see  p.  32 
and  the  sections  on  anatomy  in  the  Introduction. 

The  Most  Primitive  Insects 

These  were,  not  long  ago,  all  put  in  a  single  order: 
Aptera,  or  "wingless."  They  are  now  divided  into  four 
classes,  including  Thysanura  and  Collembola,  and  seven 
orders ;  but  the  user  of  this  book  is  not  apt  to  notice  more 
than  one  or  two  species. 

_.  Two   hundred   and   fifty-odd   years   ago 

Hooke  TVTote  concerning  the  Silver-fish 
or  Fish-moth:  "It  is  a  small  Silver-shining  Worm  or 
Moth,  which  I  found  much  conversant  among  Books  and 
Papers,  and  is  supposed  to  be  that  which  corrodes  and 
eats  holes  through  leaves  and  covers;  it  appears  to  the 
naked  eye  a  small  glittering  Pearl-colored  Moth,  which, 
upon  the  removal  of  Books  and  Papers  in  the  Summer,  is 
often  observed  very  nimbly  to  scud,  and  pack  away  to 
some  lurking  cranney,  where  it  may  the  better  protect 
itself  from  any  appearing  dangers.  Its  head  appears  big 
and  blunt  and  its  body  tapers  from  it  towards  the  tail 
smaller  and  smaller,  being  shaped  almost  like  a  carrot." 
If  such  a  creature  is  eating  your  wall  paper,  starched 
curtains  or  clothing,  photographs  or  other  belongings, 
your  sorrow  may  be  mitigated  by  your  interest  in  seeing 
the  most  primitive  insect  you  are  Hkely  to  observe  without 
special  effort.  Insects  of  this  and  related  classes  never 
have  and  never  have  had  wings;  they  just  grow  up,  from 
new-born  to  adult,  with  scarcely  as  much  change  as  occurs 
in  the  growth  of  a  dog.  The  species  just  mentioned  is 
Lepisma  saccharina  (Plate  VIII).  It  is  a  "moth"  only 
because  it  eats  furnishings  and  clothing.  A  related  species 
{domestica)  is  abimdant  in  some  bake  shops  and  old 
kitchens,  rimning  about  even  in  hot  places,  whence  its 
Old  English  name:  Fire-brat. 

39 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Frequently  the  surface  of  still  pools  is 

Collembola  ,    ,  r  ^-  ^      ^  i  r 

covered  by  a  mass  of  tiny  dark  specks  of 
insects  which  spring  about,  when  disturbed,  without  even 
denting  the  surface  film.  Sometimes  similar  creatures 
are  seen  on  the  snow  during  bright  spring  days,  becoming 
a  nuisance  in  maple-sugar  camps  by  getting  into  the  sap. 
These  are  Collembola  or  Spring-tails — grotesque-looking 
creatures  which,  when  at  rest,  keep  the  "tail"  curved 
under  them  and  jump  by  straightening  out.  See  Smin- 
thurus  aquaticus  in  Plate  VIII. 

PLECTOPTERA;  EphEMERID/E 

The  family  name  of  May-flies  (see  Plate  VIII)  comes 
from  the  same  Greek  root  as  does  "ephemeral"  and, 
although  the  term  would  fit  the  adult  lives  of  most  insects, 
it  does  forcibly  apply  to  many  of  these,  the  three-weeks 
winged  life  of  Chloeon  dipterum  being  exceptional.  How- 
ever, though  the  winged  stage  may  last  but  a  day — or, 
better,  a  night — their  lives  from  egg  to  adult  are,  insectly 
speaking,  among  the  longest,  some  taking  three  years  for 
their  development.  A  female  drops  two  packages,  each 
of  which  may  contain  several  hundred  eggs,  into  the  water; 
the  packages  break  almost  immediately  and,  after  some 
time,  there  hatch  from  the  eggs  larvae  with  gills  along  each 
side  of  the  abdomen  and  three  (as  a  rule)  tail  filaments. 
According  to  the  species,  these  larvae  may  swim  rather 
freely,  or  make  burrows  in  the  mud,  not  swimming  at 
all,  or — the  sort  you  are  most  likely  to  notice — crawl 
about  on  the  under  side  of  submerged  stones.  Some 
feed  on  vegetable  matter;  others  are  carnivorous.  These 
larvae  molt  frequently,  twenty  times  having  been  recorded 
for  one  species,  but  the  chief  change  is  the  gradual  appear- 
ance of  wing  pads.  The  young  of  insects  having,  as  these 
do,  incomplete  metamorphosis  are  usually  called  nymphs 
instead  of  larvae,  although  this  term  is  sometimes  re- 
stricted to  the  stages  in  which  the  wing  pads  are  quite 
evident.  The  full-grown  nymphs  crawl  out  of  the  water, 
frequently  in  crowds;  the  skin  splits  down  the  back  of 
each  and  the  freed  creatures  make  short  flights.  But 
molting  is  not  over  yet.     Nature  loves  exceptions,  perhaps 

40 


Plate  VIII 


41 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


"lest  one  good  custom  should  corrupt  the  world,"  and 
these  insects  molt  after  they  have  obtained  functional 
wings.  The  adult  form  is  now  reached  and  thousands 
may  join  in  a  joyous  dance  which  often  leads  to  an  heirless 
death,  if  near  human  habitations,  for  they  seem  imable  to 
resist  the  attraction  of  bright  lights.  Even  under  normal 
conditions  some  species  dance  a  part  of  a  night,  mate, 
lay  eggs,  and  die  before  morning.  Fish  eagerly  devour 
the  adults  which  fall  on  the  water;  and  a  favorite  dry-fly, 
"gray  drake,"  of  fishermen  is  made  in  imitation  of  these 
insects.  Plate  VIII  shows  a  typical  form.  Ephemera 
varia,  but  some  species  have  much  smaller  hind  wings  or 
even  none.  The  males  have  much  larger  compound  eyes 
than  have  the  females.  There  are  about  a  hundred 
species  in  eastern  United  States,  the  identification  of 
which  is  rather  difficult.  The  ambitious  student  is 
referred  to  Bulletin  86  of  the  New  York  State  Museum. 

Odonata 

The  Dragon-  and  Damsel-flies  have  been  called  "Devil's 
Darning-needles"  and  accused  of  sewing  up  the  ears  of 
bad  boys;  "Snake-doctors"  or  "Snake-feeders"  on  the 
theory  that  they  administered  to  the  needs  of  reptiles; 
and  "Horse-stingers"  on  the  equally  mistaken  notion 
that  they  sting — since  no  human  had  ever  been  stung, 
horses  must  have  been.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  they  are 
dangerous  only  to  other  insects,  but  since  Odonata  have 
relatively  strong  biting  jaws,  the  larger  species  may  give 
you  a  gentle  nip  if  you  put  your  finger  in  their  mouth. 
All  members  of  this  order  live  in  water  until  they  get  wings 
and  the  aquatic  young  catch  their  prey  in  a  very  different 
manner  from  that  practised  by  the  aerial  adults.  The 
flying  "dragon"  darts  back  and  forth  with  swift,  well- 
controlled  motions,  scooping  up  its  game  in  a  "basket" 
formed  by  its  six  extended  legs  and  the  front  of  its  thorax; 
the  young,  however,  are  sluggish  and  lie  in  wait  for  the 
unwary.  When  their  chance  comes,  a  curious  thing 
happens :  jaws  seem  to  shoot  out  from  the  mouth  and  snap 
up  the  victim.  Really,  it  is  a  jointed  lower  lip  which  is 
extended,  and  the  "jaws"  are  hooks  on  its  end  (see  Plate 

42 


Plate  IX 


DQin5el-|lij  nymph 


teste 

rectanqularis 


Drogon-jly  nijmph; 


43 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


IX) ;  the  real  jaws  are  attached  near  the  base  of  this  lip. 
Odonata  have  incomplete  metamorphosis  but  the  pre- 
adult  stage,  although  active  and  showing  wing  cases,  does 
not  at  all  resemble  the  adult,  differing  in  but  little  except 
size  and  the  presence  of  wing-pads  from  its  appearance 
when  newly  hatched.  About  300  species  are  known  in  the 
United  States.  Bulletins  47  and  68  of  the  New  York 
State  Museum  give  technical  keys  by  Needham  for  most 
of  the  species  of  New  York  as  well  as  details  concerning 
the  curious  sexual  organs  and  other  matters  of  interest. 

ZYGOPTERA 

This  suborder  includes  the  Damsel-flies,  those  Odonata 
whose  young  breathe  by  means  of  three  leaf-like  gills 
placed  at  the  hind  end  of  their  slender  body;  the  adults, 
when  at  rest,  hold  the  wings  edge  up  and  parallel  with  the 
body  (see  Lestes,  Plate  IX).  They  are  not  as  strong 
fliers  as  are  the  "dragons,"  and  they  are  more  frequently 
seen  flying  tandem.  In  fact,  a  male  often  grasps  with  the 
pincers  on  the  end  of  his  body  the  thorax  of  a  female  and, 
flying  in  front  of  her,  accompanies  her  on  the  egg-laying 
excursions,  even  going  under  the  water  with  her  when  she 
descends  to  place  eggs  inside  the  stems  or  leaves  of  sub- 
merged plants.  It  seems  to  me  that  the  males  are  of  real 
assistance  on  such  occasions:  the  legs  of  Odonata  are  not 
well  fitted  for  walking  so  that  it  is  difficult  for  them  to 
crawl  up  through  the  water's  "film"  (surface  tension); 
the  joint  efforts  of  both  sexes  gets  the  male  through  and 
he  then  uses  his  wings  to  pull  the  female  out. 

.  As  will  be  seen  in  Plate  X,  only  the  male 

americana  Ruby-spot  is   jeweled.     Adults   are   to   be 

found  late  in  the  season,  fluttering  about 
streams  or  clustered  on  the  overhanging  branches.  The 
young  cling  to  plants  growing  in  the  current  or,  sometimes, 
to  those  along  the  edge  of  large  ponds. 

The  members  of  this  large,  widely  dis- 
tributed   genus     (Plate    IX)    are    usually 
abundant   in   marshes   and   about   shallow   pools   which 
contain  standing  vegetation.     Needham  has  noted  that 

44 


Plate  X 


/JX^r.^ 


—  .    •  '    ■  fr^ 


<^ 


HetaerifiQ 
QmericonQ 


Calopteryx 


mciCLilotQ 


Perithemis 
d  0  m  i  1 1 Q 


I 


--^^ 


"> 


T  > 


0^ 


LibellalQ      I    pulchellQ 


DRAGON-FLIES. 


L.  unguiculata  places  the  eggs  in  aerial  parts  of  plants 
which  are  growing  in  pools  that  usually  dry  up  in  mid- 
summer; the  yoimg,  instead  of  hatching  as  soon  as  they 
are  developed,  stay  inside  the  eggshell  until  the  plants 
die,  toward  the  end  of  the  season,  and  drop  into  the  now 
well-filled  pool;  development  then  goes  on  so  rapidly  that 
the  adult  stage  is  reached  before  the  pool  dries  up  the 
next  summer.  Probably,  however,  some  of  the  species 
lay  their  eggs  under  water. 

The  figure  in  Plate  X  despicts  a  female 
^1 T^  Black-wing ;  the  male  has  no  white  spot  near 

the  outer  end  of  the  front  margin  of  the 
wings  and  his  wings  are  darker  than  hers.  Adults  of 
this  genus  (probably  Agrion  is  a  better  name)  usually  keep 
close  to  ditches  or  small  streams  in  rocky  woods.  The 
female  maculata,  unattended  by  the  male,  lays  her  eggs 
in  the  submerged  stems  of  aquatic  plants.  The  young  of 
this  species  have  a  light  band  on  each  leg  and  g  ill-plate. 

ANISOPTERA 

Adults  of  this  suborder,  the  Dragon-flies,  when  at  rest, 
hold  their  wings  flat  and  extended  at  right  angles  to  the 
body.  (See  Anax,  Plate  IX.)  The  young  do  not  have 
prominent  external  gill-plates  but  the  lower  intestine  is 
thin-walled  and  they  breathe  by  absorbing  air  from  the 
water,  which  they  draw  in  and  expel  through  the  anus. 
The  young  are  stout-bodied  in  comparison  with  those  of 
Damsel-flies,  and,  while  the  latter  swim  by  sculling,  using 
their  gills  as  oars,  the  young  Dragons  shoot  themselves 
forward  by  forcibly  expelling  the  water  from  the  rectum. 
This  may  be  seen  by  placing  one  of  them  in  a  saucer  with 
just  enough  water  to  cover  the  hind  end  of  its  body.  The 
adults  are,  perhaps,  the  strongest  fliers  of  all  insects. 
There  are  two  families,  each  with  subfamilies  not  all  of 
which  are  mentioned  here. 

.^SCHNID^ 

The  adults  of  the  subfamily  Gomphinae  are  usuall}^ 
clear  winged  and  have  bodies  striped  black  and  green  or 

45 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


yellow;  they  do  not  seem  to  fly  as  much  in  pure  sportive- 
ness  as  do  some  of  their  relatives.  The  females,  especially 
in  June,  skim  the  surface  of  ponds  and  streams,  striking 
the  tip  of  their  abdomen  into  the  water.  At  each  dip 
gelatin-covered  eggs  are  deposited;  the  gelatin  dissolves; 
the  eggs  drop  to  the  muddy  bottom;  and  there,  covered 
with  silt,  the  wide,  flat  young  lie  in  wait  for  their  food. 

Needham  calls  the  subfamily  ^schninae  "the  largest, 
fleetest,  and  most  voracious  of  our  dragon  flies."  Many 
of  them  hunt  well  into  twilight.  The  young  are  clean, 
slender-bodied,  active  climbers  among  green  plants  along 
the  borders  of  ponds  and  streams.  The  following  are 
two  of  the  common  species. 

This  species  (Plate  IX)  is  found  in  China, 
Ansx 

Junius  Siberia,    throughout    the    Western    Hemi- 

sphere from  Alaska  to  Costa  Rica,  and  in 
various  Pacific  Islands.  The  clear  wings  are  at  least  two 
inches  long;  the  thorax  and  head  are  bright  green;  and 
in  front  of  the  eyes  is  a  round,  black  spot  surrounded,  first, 
by  a  yellow  ring,  and,  then,  by  a  ring  of  dark  blue.  The 
young  are  sure  to  be  found  by  those  who  look  for  them 
and  the  dry  shell,  out  of  which  the  adult  came  during  the 
night,  is  frequently  seen  clinging  to  the  stems  of  plants 
which  grow  out  of  or  near  water. 

_  .      ^  This  species   (Plate  XI)   might  be  con- 

£pi3BScnn& 

jjgf o5  fused  with  A .  Junius  except  that  it  is  larger 

and  has  a  T-shaped,  instead  of  a  roimd, 

spot  in  front  of  its  eyes.     It  is  the  largest  of  our  dragons 

and  one  which  frequently  gets  into  buildings. 

LlBELLULID^ 

Some  of  our  commonest  species  belong  here  and  they 
are  collectively  called  Skimmers  from  their  habit  of  sailing 
back  and  forth  close  to  the  ground  or  water.  They 
frequently  rest  on  bare  branches  or  tall  grass  stems  and 
seem  ever  ready  to  dart  after  a  fly  or  to  drive  off  another 
Dragon  poaching  on  their  preserve.  The  females  do  not 
place  their  eggs  in  plants  but  either  drop  them  loosely  or 

46 


Plate  XI 


EpioeschnQ  heros 


Plathemis 
trimQCulata 


Libellula  semi[QsciQtQ 


47 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


hang  them  m  gelatinous  strings  on  aquatic  vegetation. 
Such  a  string  may  contain  more  than  100,000  eggs. 

This  species  (Plate  XII)  of  the  subfamily 
EpicorduUa         CorduHn^  is  called  Water-prince.     It  will 

T)nilC6DS 

test  your  skill  with  the  net,  as  it  is  a  splendid 
flyer  and  rarely  at  rest.  Adults  are  to  be  found  from  May 
to  midsummer  along  muddy,  reed-grown  banks.  The 
young  live  on  the  bottom  among  detritus  or  on  submerged 
logs.  Not  being  good  climbers,  the  nymphs  usually  seek  a 
broad  supporting  sxirface,  even  some  distance  from  the 
water,  when  they  are  ready  to  split  down  the  back  and 
free  the  adult.  The  female  flies  alone  when  depositing  her 
eggs  and  makes  her  dips  some  distance  apart  in  open  water. 

The  remainder  of  the  species  mentioned  here  belong  to 
the  subfamily  Libellulinae. 

The  Amber-wing  is  one  of  the  smallest 

Penthemis  q£  ^^^  ^^.^^  dragon-flies  and  may  be  easily 

domitia  .      1    ,  .  ^       _,  ,,       T, 

recognized   by   reference   to   Plate   X.     It 

flies,  rather  slowly  and  clumsily,  in  May  and  June,  fre- 
quently resting,  and  hiding  completely  if  a  cloud  but  cover 
the  sun. 

, Individuals  of  this  genus  are  common 

Libellula  , 

and  conspicuous.     The  young  are  elongate, 

tapering,  and  provided  with  hairs  which  collect  a  conceal- 
ing covering  of  silt.  L.  pulchella  (see  Plate  X)  frequents 
ponds;  the  females  do  not  have  the  spaces  between  the 
spots  so  white  as  do  the  males.  L.  semifasciata  (Plate 
XI)  appears  even  before  the  middle  of  May,  usually  about 
woodland  brooks.  The  basal  portions  of  the  wings  of  L. 
luctuosa  (Plate  XII)  are  brownish  or  black;  the  outer 
portions  are  clear  except  that  the  old  males  have  the 
middle  chalky  white  and  the  females  have  brownish  tips. 

This  frequenter  of  ponds  and  ditches,  the 

^iSacSite         White-tail    (Plate    XI),    usually    holds    its 

wings    slanting    forward    and    downward 

when  at  rest.     The  females  and  young  males  have  the 

48 


Plate  XII 


49 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


brown  body  marked  with  yellow,  but  the  old  males  are 
powdered  with  white. 

_  ,.,^     .  Three  of  our  most  beautiful  small  species 

Celithemis 

belong    to  this  genus.     C.  eponina   (Plate 

XII)  is  adult  in  late  June  and  early  July  along  the  borders 

of  ponds  and  in  the  neighboring  fields.     C.  elisa  has  a 

small  rounded  spot  of  brown  on  each  front  wing  just 

beyond  the  place  where  eponina  has  a  brown  band.     C. 

ornata  (Plate  XII)  is  found  along  the  Atlantic  coast  from 

Maine  to  Florida. 

_         ^  Alany  of  the  species  of  this  large  genus 

S3mip6truni 

have  brilliant  red  bodies.    They  frequently 

fiy  far  from  their  marshy  home.  The  only  one  of  our 
common  species  which  has  wing  markings  is  S.  semicinctum 
(Plate  XII). 

PLECOPTERA 

All  observant  trout  fishermen  have  noticed  on  the  stones 
in  rapid  streams  hordes  of  flat  larvae  (nymphs)  clinging 
tightly  or  scuttling  from  place  to  place.  They  usually 
belong  to  this  group  (see  Plate  XIII),  as  may  be  told  by 
the  two  tail  filaments,  two  tarsal  claws  and  the  thread- 
like gills,  if  any,  at  the  bases  of  the  legs.  There  is  only 
one  family,  Perlid^,  the  common  name  being  Stone-  or 
Salmon-flies.  They  never  have  gills  along  the  sides  of 
the  abdomen,  although  there  may  be  gills  at  the  bases  of 
the  tail  filaments;  the  thoracic  gills  are  not  large  and  the 
smaller  species  have  none  at  all,  depending  upon  the 
thinness  of  the  skin  on  their  underside  for  the  transfer 
of  oxygen.  Since  the  breathing  apparatus  is  so  poorly 
developed,  they  are  largely  confined  to  well-aerated  water. 
They  feed  upon  other  aquatic  animals  and  are  eagerly 
eaten  by  trout,  making  excellent  wet  bait.  Especially 
during  the  first  warm  days  of  spring,  the  full-grown  nymphs 
crawl  out  on  stones  or  logs  and  the  adults  leave  the 
nymphal  skin,  which,  complete  even  to  the  lining  of  the 
main  tracheae  and  of  the  fore-gut,  is  hooked  to  the  molting 
place.     The  adults  are  gray  or  greenish,  usually  with  two 

50 


Plate  XIII 


Corydalis 
cornutQ 


51 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


tail  filaments,  hind  wings  larger  than  the  front  ones  and, 
in  some  cases,  with  curious  reminiscences  of  their  former 
life  in  degenerate  gills  at  the  bases  of  the  legs.  A  single 
female  may  lay  as  many  as  6,000  eggs,  dropping  them 
either  promiscuously  into  the  water  or  done  up  in  a  loose 
packet.  Less  than  a  hundred  species  have  been  described 
from  North  America. 

Megaloptera 

This  "pigeon-hole"  in  the  classification  of  insects 
contains  the  former  Neuropterous  family  Sialididae.  As 
an  Order,  it  now  has  two  families  of  its  own:  Sialididae 
(in  a  limited  sense)  and  Corydalid^.  Before  telling 
about  the  only  species  concerning  which  I  have  actually 
been  asked  by  laymen,  I  will  slip  in  a  few  words  about  some 
of  its  relatives.  This  order  is  probably  more  primitive 
than  Neuroptera  and  its  members  differ  from  Neuroptera 
in  having  the  hind  wings  broad  at  the  base  and  folded, 
fan-like,  when  at  rest.  Species  of  Sialis  (the  only  genus 
in  Sialididae)  are  called  Alder-flies  or  Orl-flies  and  differ 
from  other  m.embers  of  the  order  in  having  no  ocelli. 
Their  larvas  are  aquatic;  carnivorous;  each  of  the  first 
seven  segments  of  their  abdomen  bears  a  pair  of  five- 
jointed  appendages,  and  a  similar  (but  longer  and  un- 
jointed)  appendage  forms  a  kind  of  tail.  The  larvae  live 
buried  in  the  bottom  of  streams  but  they  crawl  out  and 
bury  themselves  in  above-water  earth  to  pupate — all 
Megaloptera  have  complete  metamorphosis  and  so  do 
pupate.  The  Corydalidas  differ  from  the  Sialididae  by 
having  three  ocelli,  when  adult,  and  two  hooked  fleshy 
projections,  instead  of  a  single  "tail,"  on  the  hind  end 
of  the  abdomen  of  the  larva.  The  family  is  divided  into 
genera,  two  of  which  concern  us:  CJmuliodes,  in  which 
the  adults  have  the  hind  comers  of  the  head  rounded,  and 
the  larvae  have  no  hair-like  tufts  at  the  bases  of  the  lateral 
filaments  of  the  abdomen;  and  Corydalis,  in  which  the 
adults  have  the  hind  corners  of  the  head  sharply  angled 
and  the  larvae  have  hair-like  tufts  at  the  bases  of  the  lateral 
filaments.  The  species  of  Chauliodes  are  called  Fish- 
flies.     The  adults  are  grayish  or  brownish,  with  whitish 

52 


NEUROPTERA. 

spots  or  bands,  and  have  feathered  antennae.  The  larvae 
are  aquatic,  but  do  not  favor  swift  streams.  Pupation 
takes  place  out  of  the  water,  in  rotten  logs  or  in  the  earth. 
Now  we  come  to  the  creature  laymen  ask  about. 

I  can  not  give  all  the  nicknames  and 

Coryda  is  have  no  preference :  some  of  those  I  have 

cornuta 

heard  are  Dobson-fly,  for  the  adult,  and, 

for  the  larvae,  Hellgrammite,  Dobson,  Crawler,  Hell-devil, 
Hell-diver,  Conniption-bug,  and  Amly.  Others  have 
been  published,  but  when  I  read  this  short  list  to  my  ten- 
year-old  she  said  "It  must  be  an  awful-looking  thing." 
Whatever  its  appearance  (Plate  XIII),  the  larvae  make 
irresistible  bait  for  bass  and  many  of  us  have  turned  over 
stones  in  swift  streams  looking  for  them  with  that  end  in 
view.  In  the  May  or  June  that  the  larvce  are  full-grown, 
a  matter  of  probably  three  years,  they  crawl  out  on  the 
bank  and  pupate  under  stones,  the  adults  emerging  several 
weeks  later.  Now,  the  male  is  not  as  terrible  as  he 
looks.  Those  long  jaws  are  to  embrace  the  female  when 
mating.  The  female's  jaws  are  short,  stubby  and  much 
more  likely  to  pinch.  Two  to  three  thousand  eggs  are 
laid  in  a  whitish,  rounded  mass  on  a  leaf,  or  some  other 
object,  which  overhangs  a  stream. 

NEUROPTERA 

As  previously  mentioned,  the  Sialididag  and  Corydalidae 
are  considered  by  many  authorities  to  be  Neuroptera. 
Neuroptera,  in  a  limited  sense,  are  not  only  terrestrial  but, 
in  some  cases,  inhabitants  of  the  dryest  deserts.  Meta- 
morphosis is  complete.  There  are  eight  or  ten  interesting 
families  but  members  of  only  two  of  them  are  commonly 
noticed  by  laymen. 

The  following  is  a  key  to  certain  of  the  Neuroptera. 

1.  Antennae  enlarged  toward  the  tip;  club-shaped,  or 
with  a  terminal  knob MYRMELEONiDiE. 

Antennae  without  terminal  enlargement 2 . 

2.  Front  legs  fitted  for  seizing  prey,  stouter  than  the 
other  legs;  attached  to  the  front  end  of  an  extremely  long 
prothorax.     Some,  at  least,  of  the  larvae  live  parasitically 

53 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


in  the  nests  of  spiders  and  wasps,  and  pupate  there  with- 
in a  silken  cocoon MANTispiDiE. 

Front  legs  not  thicker  than  other  legs  and  not  fitted 
for  grasping 3. 

3.  Wings  with  few,  simple  veins,  and  covered  with  a 
whitish  powder.  Minute  and  rare  insects  whose  larvae 
feed  on  aphids QoNioPTERYGiDiE. 

Wings  with  many  veins  and  not  covered  with  whitish 
powder 4. 

4.  Wing-veins  all  ending  in  a  succession  of  symmetrical 
forks.  Chrysopid^  (antennae  threadlike)  and  Hemero- 
BiiD^  (antennae  either  like  a  string  of  beads  or  comb-like). 

Wing-veins  meeting  the  outer  margin  of  the  wing 
in  straight  lines.  Insects  now  put  in  the  order  Megaloptera 
(P-  52). 

...  The   "common"   name,   Ant-lion,  given 

Myrmeleomdae  ,  .     ,  .     .       .,      •  1     • 

to  members  of  this  family  is  a  translation 

of  the  real  name  and  both  are  poor,  for  one  could  scarcely 

imagine  a  Hon  digging  a  trap  in  which  to  catch  its  prey. 

The  ant-lion's  trap  is  ingenious;  it  is  a  pit  made  in  sand  or 

loose  soil.      The  larva  is  hidden  at  the  bottom  (see  the 

cross-section  shown  in  Plate  XIV).     When  an  ant  or  some 

other  insect  steps  over  the  edge,  it  tumbles  into  the  waiting 

jaws  below,   often  being   assisted  in   its  downfall  by  a 

shower  of  sand  thrown  up  by  the  hidden  lion.     Pupation 

takes  place,  underground,  inside  a  spherical  silken  cocoon. 

The  adults  are  delicate,  gauzy-winged  creatures  which  are 

frequently  attracted  to  lights ;  in  fact,  they  were  so  common 

as  to  be  troublesome  one  summer  when  I  was  collecting 

moths  in  the  arid  Southwest.     A  favorite  place  for  the 

pits  of  some  species  is  underneath  shed  roofs. 

In  his  Book  of  Bugs  Harvey  Sutherland 
says  of  the  Aphis-lion:  "Its  mother,  the 
golden-eyed  lace-wing  fly,  is  a  dear,  sweet  thing,  that  you 
would  think  fit  only  to  go  on  an  Easter  card,  so  pale  and 
aesthetic  are  her  light-green  wings.  But  her  children  are 
such  regular  little  '  di wels '  that  she  dare  not  lay  her  eggs 
in  one  mass,  for  the  first  one  out  would  eat  up  all  the  rest. 
So  she  spins  a  lot  of  stalks  of  stiff  silk  and  sticks  one  egg 

54 


Plate  XIV 


„  ,  *.T    *  •    •         •  • 


«•■••:.;>•../.•..  •.•-...    .  %-''       '       .  '        /.f 


\rf 


Mijrmeleomi 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


on  the  end  of  each,  thereby  giving  each  young  one  a 
chance  for  its  life."  The  captious  would  remark  that  a 
given  egg  and  its  stalk  are  arranged  before  another  stalk  is 
made,  but  the  final  effect  is  the  same  (see  Plate  XIV). 
The  principal  genus  of  this  family  is  Chrysopa,  including 
about  a  dozen  species  in  most  parts  of  the  coimtry  but  the 
species  all  look  pretty  much  alike.  They  come  every  year 
on  my  honeysuckle  and  I  bring  more  from  the  fields  and 
turn  them  loose  in  my  garden.  I  have  never  considered, 
carefullv,  the  moral  side  of  such  an  action  but  I  am  sure 
the  owners  of  the  "fields"  would  tell  me  I  was  welcome 
if  I  showed  them  the  Chrysopa — they  wouldn't  know  what 
a  splendid  help  these  insects  are  in  keeping  down  aphids 
(plant  lice).  One  Sunday  afternoon  I  tried  to  see  how 
many  such  pests  a  single  Chrysopa  would  eat;  I  have 
forgotten  what  the  count  was  when  I  stopped  but  I  know 
that  I  got  tired  before  the  aphis-lion  did  and  I  turned  it 
loose  on  the  honeysuckle  to  keep  up  the  good  work.  The 
larva  spins  a  delicate  silken  cocoon  in  which  to  pupate; 
the  cocoon  opens  like  a  box  when  the  adult  is  ready  to 
emerge.  The  odor  of  the  adult  is  not  always  as  delicate 
as  the  appearance;  they  are  sometimes  common  about 
lights   so  that  you   can   easily   determine   this  yourself. 

The  larvae  of  Hemerobiid^e  are  also  "aphis-lions";  the 
adults  have  brownish  or  smoky  wings  instead  of  greenish. 

Mecoptera 

Adult  males  of  the  genus  Panorpa  (see  Plate  XV)  have 
a  pair  of  claspers  at  the  end  of  their  abdomen  by  means  of 
which  they  hold  the  females  while  mating.  These  claspers 
and  the  turned-up  slender  body  suggest  the  sting  of  a 
scorpion,  hence  the  common  name  Scorpion-flies,  but  they 
are  harmless.  The  larvae,  as  far  as  known,  are  carnivorous 
and  Hve  on  or  just  below  the  surface  of  the  ground,  es- 
pecially if  it  be  moist.  All  the  adults  of  this  order  have 
beak-like  mouths  and,  if  they  feed  at  all,  are  probably 
carnivorous.  Certainly,  adults  of  Bittacus  (Plate  XV), 
although  they  look  something  like  craneflies  with  too  many 
wings  and  appear  to  be  asleep  much  of  the  time,  wake  up 

56 


TRICHOPTERA  :  CADDICE=WORMS. 


in  time  to  catch  unwary  flies;  but  the  small  (less  than  .25 
in.  long)  species  of  Boreus,  which  have  no  wings  and  are 
found  on  the  snow  in  the  Northern  States,  must  find  poor 
picking  there. 

TRICHOPTERA 

These  insects  have  an  incidental  interest  in  being  near 

to  the  ancestors  of  butterflies  and  moths,  but  they  need 
no  reflected  glory  to  give  them  an  appeal.  They  have 
complete  metamorphosis,  and,  although  the  adults  are 
aerial,  the  larvae  and  pupae  are  aquatic.  The  name  of  the 
order  signifies  "hairy  winged";  the  hair  is,  however,  often 
difficult  to  see  without  a  lens  and  sometimes  it  is  almost  as 
scale-like  as  in  some  Lepidoptera.  The  adults  are  fre- 
quently attracted  to  our  porch  hghts,  with  many  people 
passing  for  moths  that  hold  their  wings  trimly  against  the 
sides  of  their  bodies  and  have  very  long  antennae.  The 
larvse  are  popularly  called  Caddice-  or  Caddis-worms — 
the  term  coming  from  a  German  word  for  "bait"  because 
they  were  used  for  that  purpose.  In  these  days  of  dry 
flies  the  adults  serve  as  models  for  such  favorites  as  the 
Duns.  Alost  of  the  larvae  make  portable  houses  for 
themselves  (see  Plate  XV).  Phryganea  interrupta  and 
Platy  centra  pus  maculipennis,  both  living  in  still  water,  use 
light  material,  the  former  clipping  pieces  of  leaves  and 
neatl}^  fastening  the  edges  together,  the  latter  cutting 
small  sticks  in  short  lengths  and  arranging  them  crossways 
of  its  body.  Molanna  cinerea,  Notidohia  americana  (case, 
a  narrow  cone),  Psilotreta  frontalis  (a  similar  case  but 
blunter,  nearly  cylindrical),  and  Helicopsyche  annulicornis 
all  live  in  running  water  and  build  of  sand.  Halesus  argus 
also  lives  in  running  water  but  weights  the  case  of  sticks 
with  stones  and  shells,  not  always  being  careful  to  select 
unoccupied  shells  either.  In^these  and  many  other  such 
instances,  the  larv^  go  about  with  only  their  heads  and 
legs  sticking  out  of  their  homes  and  are  ever  ready  to 
withdraw  even  those  on  approach  of  danger.  The 
materials  used  in  constructing  the  cases  are  fastened 
together  with  silk;  when  time  for  pupation  comes,  the 
whole  case  is  anchored  with  silken  cords  to  some  under- 

57 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


water  support,  the  ends  are  covered  with  a  loose  silk 
netting  and  the  change  occurs  in  the  privacy  of  the  larval 
home.  Polycentropus  lucidus  builds  a  stationary,  tunnel- 
like dwelling  in  the  silt  where  the  current  is  slight  and 
species  of  Hydropsyclie  build  stone  ones,  which  are  anchored 
to  larger  stones  in  places  where  the  cturent  is  swift. 
With  the  possible  exception  of  Hydropsyclie,  caddice- 
worms  seem  to  be  vegetarians.  Hydropsyclie  may  be 
carnivorous  and  Hydropsyclie  analis  has  long  been  an 
object  of  interest  with  those  who  know.  Its  larva  lives 
in  the  very  swiftest  of  streams  in  a  rather  rude,  but  firmly 
fastened,  hut  of  pebbles  and  debris;  not  far  from  its  door 
it  makes  a  net  (see  Plate  XV)  between  small  stones  or  on 
the  top  of  some  large  stone  where  it  is  in  the  current's 
sweep.  This  net  is  always  placed  across  stream  and  its 
top  is  often  framed  with  sticks.  Now  all  H.  analis  needs 
do,  when  hungry,  is  to  go  out  of  its  hut  and  eat  whatever 
food  the  net  has  caught.  On  such  excursions  it  keeps 
hold  of  a  strand  of  silk  which  has  one  end  fastened  to  the 
door  so  that  it  can  pull  itself  back  if  the  current  should 
loosen  its  footing.  Pupation  takes  place  in  the  larval 
dwelling,  but  how  about  the  adult?  Most  insects  slowly 
work  their  way  out  of  the  pupal  case  and  then  rest  for 
some  time  until  their  wings  are  dry  and  strong.  This 
would  never  do  for  H.  analis,  nor  for  many  other  species  of 
Trichoptera,  since  fish  would  snap  them  up  even  if  the  cur- 
rent did  not  overpower  them.  It  is  said  that  the  pupa  leaves 
its  protective  case,  swims  to  the  surface,  and  instantly  the 
adult  shoots  out  of  the  pupal  skin  and  flies  away. 

The  classification  of  adult  caddice-fiies  is  not  easy  and, 
as  the  chief  interest  is  in  the  larvae,  the  following  key, 
based  on  larval  characters,  is  given.  It  is  a  modification 
of  one  in  Bulletin  47  of  the  N.  Y.  State  Museum  and 
includes  the  principal  families. 

I.  Head  bent  downward  at  an  angle  with  the  bod}'-; 
tubercles  usually  present  on  the  basal  abdominal  segment ; 
gill  filament,  when  present,  simple  (except  in  some  Limno- 

philidas),  lateral  fringe  usually  present 2. 

Head  in  line  with  the  main  axis  of  the  body ;  tubercles 
and  lateral  fringe  absent;  gill  filaments,  when  present, 
branched 5. 

58 


Plate  XV 


PanorpQ 
nebulosa 


Bittacus 
striqosus 


ManlispQ 
brunneQ 


Net  of 
Hydiropsyche 


HqUsus  Qrqus 


Platycentropus 
maculipennis 


Molanno 
cinerea 


Phyloc&nfropus 
lucidus 


Hslicopsyche 
Qnaulicorais 


PhryqaneQ 
interruptQ 


Caddloa  Cqsbs 


59 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


2.  Hind  legs  not  more  than  twice  as  long  as  the  front 
legs 3. 

Hind  legs  more  than  twice  as  long  as  the  front;  ab- 
dominal constrictions  slight.  Cylindrical  case  of  sand  and 
small  stones LEPTOCERiDiE. 

3.  Head  longitudinally  elliptic,  at  slight  angle  with  the 
body;  only  head  and  pronotum  chitinized;  abdominal 
constrictions  deep ;  hind  legs  slightly  longer  than  the  front. 
Case  of  vegetable  matter  laid  longitudinally  and  forming 
a  spiral,  widening  at  the  anterior  end PhryganeiD/E. 

Head  oval  to  round;  usually  more  of  the  thorax  than 
the  pronotum  chitinized ;  abdominal  constrictions  slight. .  4. 

4.  Lateral  fringe  well  developed.     Cases  various 

LlMNOPHILID^. 

Lateral  fringe  slightly  developed.  Case  of  sand  or 
small  stones Sericostomatid^. 

5.  Abdomen  much  thicker  than  the  thorax.  Case 
kidney-shaped,  of  small  stones;  or  flat  and  parchment- 
hke Hydroptilid^. 

Abdomen  httle,  if  any,  thicker  than  thorax 6. 

6.  Hind  legs  about  the  same  length  as  the  front  ones. 
No  portable  larval  case Hydropsychid^. 

Hind  legs  a  little  longer  than  the  front  ones.  No 
larval   cases Rhyacophilid.e. 


The  ancestral  tree  of  insects  is  buried  to 
The  Ances-  beyond  the  origin  of  the  branches  in  the 
oblivion  of  the  past.  We  have  been  look- 
ing at  the  lower  part  of  certain  branches  and  on  one 
of  them  we  got  rather  close  to  the  roots  when  we  were 
examining  "the  most  primitive  insects."  Partly  for 
convenience,  but  also  because  the  branches  are  so  tangled 
and  their  points  of  union  are  so  hidden,  we  have  not  kept 
to  a  single  branch.  When  we  were  at  the  Trichoptera, 
we  were  near  the  point  where  one  of  them  blossoms  out 
into  Lepidoptera.  It  is  believed  that  incomplete  meta- 
morphosis is  one  of  the  signs  of  primitiveness  and  we  will 
now  go  down  near  the  trunk  again  but  in  another  part  of 
the  tree.  Rather  than  start  with  forms  not  usually  noticed 
by  any  but  professionals,  we  will  begin  with  earwigs: 

60 


DERMAPTERA:  EARWIGS. 


Dermaptera 


The  name  of  the  order  alludes  to  the  skin-like,  really 
leather-like,  front  wings.  Another  name  which  is  some- 
times used  is  Euplexoptera  and  alludes  to  the  skill  with 
which  they  fold  their  hind  wings.  Grant  Allen,  in  his 
essay  on  Those  Horrid  Earwigs,  has  written  entertain- 
ingly of  this  matter.  They  sometimes  come  to  porch 
lights  but  are  not  really  common  wdth  us.  Of  the  nick- 
name, Allen  says:  "It  is  called  earwig,  gossips  will  tell 
you,  because  it  creeps  into  the  ears  of  incautious  sleepers 
in  the  open  air,  and  so  worms  its  way  to  the  brain,  where, 
if  you  will  believe  the  purveyors  of  folk-lore  natural  history, 
it  grows  to  a  gigantic  size,  *as  big  as  a  goose's  egg,'  and 
finally  kills  its  unhappy  victim.  It  is  true,  science  knows 
nothing  of  this  form  of  brain-disease;  it  has  tried  the  case 
before  an  impartial  tribunal  and  the  earwig  has  left  the 
court  without  a  stain  on  its  character." 

Earwigs  are  easily  confused  with  Staphylinid  (and  some 
other)  beetles  because  the  front  wings  of  neither  cover  the 
body,  but  earwigs  may  be  distinguished  by  their  having 
pincers  on  behind  (compare  Plates  XVI  and  LXXV). 
These  insects  are  nocturnal ;  by  day  they  live  under  stones, 
in  decayed  wood,  in  earthworm  burrows  and  the  like.  It 
seems  to  be  a  mistake  about  their  feeding  on  plants ;  they 
are  probably  entirely  carnivorous  and  go  on  plants  to  look 
for  dead  or  living  insects  to  eat.  The  mother  sits  on  a 
cluster  of  eggs  like  a  brooding  hen  in  order  to  guard  them, 
not  for  incubation  since  insects  are  "cold-blooded."  The 
young  resemble  their  parents  except  that  they  have  no 
wings  and  they  are  said  to  stick  rather  closely  to  mother 
for  some  time  after  they  are  hatched.  All  the  common 
species  in  the  Northeast  are  transatlantic  introductions. 
Anisolahis  maritima  measures  nearly,  or  quite,  an  inch  in 
length  when  adult  and  lacks  wings.  It  is  found  under  the 
wash-up  on  the  sea  beach.  The  antennal  joints  of  For- 
ficula  are  cylindrical;  aurictilaria,  common  in  England,  is 
one  of  several  species  found  in  greenhouses  here.  The 
antennal  joints  of  Labia  minor  (Plate  XVI)  are  wider  at 
the  apices  than  at  the  bases ;  it  is  our  most  common  inland 
species. 

6i 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Orthoptera 


For  the  sake  of  simplicity,  and  to  conform  with  other 
books  you  may  see,  we  will  include  roaches,  mantids,  and 
walking  sticks  in  this  order,  calling  them  families,  although 
good  authorities  consider  each  of  them  to  be  a  separate 
order.  The  earwigs  were  formerly  classed  as  Orthop- 
tera but  are  now  generally  conceded  the  rank  of  an 
order.  All  have  incomplete  metamorphosis.  A  useful 
paper  for  students  in  the  Northeast  is  by  B.  H.  Walden, 
Bull.  No.  1 6,  State  Geol.  and  Nat.  Hist.  Survey  of  Con- 
necticut. 

Blattid^ 

These  are  the  Roaches.  I  like  the  spirit  in  which 
Sutherland  views  these  none  too  well  hked  creatures: 
"If  the  test  of  nobility  is  antiquity  of  family,  then  the 
cockroach  that  hides  behind  the  kitchen  sink  is  the  true 
aristocrat.  He  does  not  date  back  merely  to  the  three 
brothers  that  came  over  in  1640  or  to  William  the  Con- 
queror. Wherever  there  have  been  great  epoch-making 
movements  of  people  he  has  been  with  them  heart  and 
soul,  without  possessing  any  particular  religious  convic- 
tions or  political  ambitions.  It  is  not  so  much  that  he 
approves  of  their  motives  as  that  he  likes  what  they  have 
to  eat.  Since  ever  a  ship  turned  a  foamy  furrow  in  the 
sea  he  has  been  a  passenger,  not  a  paying  one  certainly, 
but  still  a  passenger.  But  man  himself  is  but  a  creature 
of  the  last  twenty  minutes  or  so  compared  with  the  cock- 
roach, for,  from  its  crevice  by  the  kitchen  sink,  it  can 
point  its  antennae  to  the  coal  in  the  hod  and  say:  'When 
that  was  being  made  my  family  was  already  well- 
established.'" 

This  hyphenate  was  named  by  Linnasus 

lattella  j^      before  the  war  and  he  probably  did  not 

germanica  .      .  ,  .  ,  ,  1 

mean     to     msmuate     anything,     although 

certain  "scientific  gents"  have  played  such  tricks.     As  a 

62 


Plate  XVI 


Biattella    . 
qermaniCQ 


PeriplanetQ  Qmericana 


P^Quslralaside 


BIqUq  orieniolis 


6p, 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


matter  of  fact,  this  household  guest  probably  accompanied 
our  ancestors  when  they  moved  into  Europe  from  Asia. 
It  got  the  name  of  Croton-bug  because  it  first  attracted 
general  attention  in  New  York  about  the  time  Croton 
water  was  put  in.  Perhaps  the  most  interesting  thing 
about  the  species  is  the  way  the  mother  carries  around  her 
package  of  eggs  sticking  out  of  the  hind  end  of  her  body 
(see  Plate  XVI). 


Blatta 


Linnaeus  is  responsible  for  the  geographic 

name  of  this  species  too,  and  also  of  the  next 
orientalis  , 

and  the  next.     He  was  a  sort  of  Airs.  W iggs. 

Only  the  male  of  the  Oriental  Roach  (Plate  XVI)  gets 

functional  wings — a  rather  common  arrangement  among 

insects  and  one  which  does  not  seem  quite  fair  as  it  means 

that  the  lady  must  walk  when  she  wishes  to  establish  her 

family  in  a  new  place.     Perhaps  the  "black  beetle"  (!) 

did  start  from  the  Orient;  like  most  of  the  roaches  which 

are  directly  associated  with  man,  it  is  now  cosmopolitan. 

This  genus  is  occasionally  brought  to  our 
attention  by  the  large,  trim  P.  americana 
(Plate  XVI,  which  also  shows  an  egg-capsule)  from  the 
South.  Sometimes  we  see  P.  australasia,  not  so  elongate 
and  wearing  yellow  shoulder  stripes  lengthwise  of  its 
front  wings. 

Those  who  go  afield  find  species  of  Ischnoptera  under 
loose  bark,  independent  country  folk  which  never  live  in 
towns.  In  the  tropics,  there  are  not  only  roaches  which 
are  much  larger  than  ours  but  also  species  which  seem  more 
beautiful  to  us;  one  such  genus  is  Panchlora  (Plate  XIX), 
members  of  which  frequently  make  the  trip  north  in 
bunches  of  bananas.  By  the  way,  in  addition  to  eating 
our  food,  clothing,  etc.,  roaches  help  us  kill  our  bedbugs, 
if  we  have  any. 

Mantid^ 

One  of  the  favorite  attitudes  (see  Plate  XVII)  of  these 
creatures  is  supposed  to  be  devout  and  has  given  them  the 
name    of    "Praying    Mantids."     I    hate    to    go    against 

64 


Plate  XVII 


MANTIDS  AND  WALKING  STICKS. 


authority  but  the  pose  docs  not  seem  to  me  devout  and  I 
know  that  the  mantis  is  seeking  whom  it  may  devour; 
see  those  big  eyes  and  especially  those  spines  on  the  jaw- 
like front  legs.  Please  do  not  accuse  me  of  punning  when 
I  suggest  that  they  be  called  "  Preying^Mantids. "  Other 
names  are  Devil's  Rear  Horses  and  Soothsayers;  while,  in 
the  South  they  are  believed  to  poison  stock  with  the 
brownish  fluid  from  their  mouths  and  are  called  Mule- 
killers.  They  are  the  only  insects  that  can  look  over  their 
shoulders.  Our  northern  native  species  {Stagmomantis 
Carolina)  does  not  get  farther  north  than  southern  New 
Jersey.  It  is  2  or  3  in.  long ;  the  males  and  some  females 
are  grayish  brown  except  for  the  body  and  feet  which  are 
sometimes  greenish;  the  females  may  be  wholly  green. 
The  egg-mass  shown  in  Plate  XVII  is  a  trifle  small.  The 
European  Mantis  religiosa  has  apparently  established 
itself  in  central  New  York.  Including  the  wings  which 
extend  beyond  the  tip  of  the  abdomen,  it  is  about  2^ 
in.  long;  it  is  either  brown  or  green.  The  Oriental  Para- 
tenodera  sinensis  is  now  fairly  common  about  Philadelphia 
and  is  being  introduced  into  other  parts  of  the  coimtry. 
It  is  quite  large,  especially  the  female,  attaining  a  length 
of  3/^  in.  or  more;  the  broad,  green,  front  margin  of  the 
front  wings  is  sharply  separated  from  the  much  larger 
brown  portion.  The  egg-mass  of  sinensis  is  shaped  like  a 
short,  broad  cornucopia;  the  eggs  are  protected  by  a 
brownish  substance  somewhat  like  dried  foam.  Several 
other  species  occiu*  in  the  South.  All  are  very  beneficial 
since  they  destroy  large  numbers  of  injurious  insects. 
They  are  quite  harmless  to  man  and,  indeed,  make  good 
pets. 

PHASMIDiE 

In  the  tropics,  where  this  family,  the  Walking  Sticks, 
is  at  home,  many  of  the  species  have  wings,  but  the  north- 
ern representatives,  Diapheromera  femorata  and  Manomera 
blatchleyi,  are  wingless — sticks  without  leaves  (see  Plate 
XVII).  These  curious  insects,  which  may  be  either 
brown  or  green,  are  not  really  rare  as  far  north  as  New 
York,  but,  as  they  look  so  like  twigs  and  never  fly,  they 

5  65 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


are  rarely  seen  by  the  layman  except  when  they  are  so 
unusually  abundant  as  to  be  destructive.  They  feed  on 
the  leaves  of  almost  any  sort  of  tree.  The  shot-like  eggs 
are  dropped  singly  and  promiscuously  to  the  ground  where 
they  lie  over  winter,  or  possibly  over  two  winters.  I  once 
found  these  insects  so  abundant  in  a  Pennsylvania  locality 
that  the  trees  were  all  but  stripped  of  leaves  and  the 
dropping  eggs  sounded  like  rain. 

The  remainder  of  the  Orthoptera  typically  have  the 
hind  femora  enlarged  and  thickened  for  leaping. 

ACRIDID^ 

By  remembering  that  the  antennae  are  always  much 
shorter  than  the  body,  one  has  no  difficulty  in  recognizing 
this  family  of  Grasshoppers.  The  migratory  Rocky 
Mountain  Locust  {Melanoplus  spretus),  which  occasion- 
ally has  been  so  destructive  in  our  West,  and  the  Biblical 
locusts,  which  were  eaten  with  wild  honey,  belong  here. 
Some  species  make  a  rasping  sound  by  rubbing  their  hind 
legs  against  their  front  wings  (tegmina);  others  rattle, 
while  flying,  their  hind  wings  against  the  tegmina.  These 
sounds  are  primarily  amorous  serenades  and  Nature's 
serenades  without  attentive  ears  would  be  even  more 
curious  than  the  ears  for  which  the  grasshoppers  perform. 
In  this  family  there  is  an  auditory  organ  on  each  side  of  the 
first  abdominal  segment,  just  above  and  back  of  the  places 
where  the  large  hind  femora  start.  Notice  the  clear  round 
spot  on  the  next  grasshopper  you  catch.  Short-horned 
grasshoppers,  as  a  rule,  lay  their  eggs  in  clusters,  under- 
ground (Plate  XVIII);  perhaps  you  have  noticed,  in  the 
fall  of  the  year,  females  along  the  path  with  their  abdomens 
sunk  to  the  base  in  a  small  hole  which  they  had  made  by 
pushing  aside  the  earth. 

These  small  grasshoppers,  the  Grouse 
Locusts,  are  distinguished  from  their  rela- 
tives by  their  pronotum  extending  back  to,  or  beyond,  the 
tip  of  the  abdomen.  There  are  numerous  species,  some 
of  which  are  quite  variable  and  one  of  which  {Acrydium 
ornatus)  is  shown  in  Plate  XVIII.  Four  genera  may  be 
separated  as  follows: 

66 


Plate  XVIII 


Grasshopper 
Egg  Mq55 


Acrydlum  ornatus 


SchistocercQ  americanQ 


TruxQlis  brevicornis 


Spharagemon  bo 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


1.  Antennae  with  21  or  22  joints Tettigidea. 

Antennae  with  12  to  14  joints 2. 

2.  Pronotum  with  a  high,  arched,  median  longitudinal 
ridge Nomotettix. 

Top  of  pronotum  rather  flat,  median  ridge  low 3. 

3.  Vertex   of    head    not    projecting    beyond    the    eyes. 

Paratettix. 
Vertex  of  head  projecting  in  front  beyond  the  eyes. ...  4. 

4.  Pronotum    reaching     to     the     eyes Neotettix. 

Pronotum  not  reaching  the  eyes Acrydium. 

It  is  difficult  to  distinguish,  in  all  cases, 
Truxalmae  ^-^j^  certainty  between  this  and  the  next 

subfamily.  The  Truxalinae  have  no  spine 
on  the  prostemtun  (or  at  most  an  oblique  tubercle)  and 
they  typically  have  receding  chins.  Plate  XVIII  shows 
a  rather  extreme  type,  Truxalis  brevicornis;  the  antennas 
are  flat  at  the  base  and  pointed  at  the  apex;  side  ridges  of 
pronotum  straight;  general  color  either  green  or  brown. 
This  species  inhabits  moist  places.  Pseudopomala  also 
has  flattened  antennae  and  a  very  oblique  face  but  its 
presternum  has  an  obtuse  tubercle.  In  Eritettix  the  an- 
tennal  joints  just  before  the  end  are  thicker  than  the 
others  and  the  apical  spur  on  the  inner  side  of  the  hind 
tibiae  is  twice  as  long  as  the  other  spur.  In  Mermiria  the 
space  between  the  mesosternal  lobes  is  almost  linear  in  its 
narrowest  part  and  the  metasternal  lobes  touch.  Some 
other  genera  (in  which,  as  in  these,  the  head  is  shorter 
than  the  pronotum  and  not  distinctly  elevated  above  it, 
may  be  separated  as  follows : 

1 .  No  small  depressions  ( ' '  f oveolae ' ')  on  the  upper  surface 
of  the  head  between  and  in  front  of  the  eyes  or,  if  present, 
invisible  from  above;  face  very  oblique 2. 

Such  f oveolae  present  and  visible  from  above;  face  less 
oblique 5» 

2.  Hind  tibia  with  18  to  21  spines  on  the  outer  margin. 
Syrbula.  S.  admirahilis:  male,  about  I  in.  long;  ground 
color  usually  brown;  yellow  on  face,  base  of  antenna,  an 
oblique  line  from  each  eye,  lower  sides  of  pronotum  and 
parts  of  hind  femora.     The  female  is  about  1.5  in.  long; 

68 


GAY-WINGED  LOCUSTS. 


usually  greenish  ground-color;  a  reddish  brown  stripe, 
bordered  with  black,  extends  from  top  of  head  to  back  of 
pronotum. 

Hind  tibia  with  not  over  15  spines  on  outer  margin. .  .  3. 

3.  Antennae  about,  or  more  than,  1.5  times  as  long  as 
head  and  pronotum  together;  a  median  ridge  on  upper 
front  of  head.  Chlosaltis.  C.  conspersa  has  yellowish  or 
brown  general  color;  length,  nearly  i  in.;  front  wings  of 
female  only  about  half  as  long  as  abdomen.  Eggs  are 
laid  in  soft  wood. 

Antennas  shorter;  no  such  distinct  ridge 4. 

4.  Upper  margins  of  sides  of  pronotum  longer  than  sides 
are  wide,  and  parallel.  Dichromorpha.  The  general  color 
of  the  male  viridis  is  dull  brown  and  the  length  is  about 
.7  in.;  the  female  is  either  brown  or  bright  green  and  at 
least  I  in.  long;  front  wings  usually  not  as  long  as  the 
abdomen. 

Sides  of  pronotum  relatively  broader  and  top  margins 
squeezed    together    in    the    middle Orphulella. 

5.  Median  ridge  of  pronotum  rather  high  and  sharp,  cut 
plainly  in  front  of  middle Mecostethtis. 

Median  ridge  not  so 6. 

6.  Apical  spurs  on  inner  side  of  hind  tibiae  equal  in  length ; 
ridges  on  sides  of  top  of  pronotum  distinct  throughout. 
Chorthippus.     Our  common  species  is  curtipennis. 

Lower  apical  spur  about  twice  as  long  as  the  upper; 
side-ridges  distinct  only  in  the  middle.  Ageneotettix, 
Not  common  east  of  the  Mississippi. 

CEdipodinae  '^^^^^    ^^^^^    ^^°"^    ^^^    preceding    sub- 

family in  not  having,  as  a  rule,  such  receding 
chins;  some  of  them  differ  from  other  grasshoppers  in 
having  parti-colored  hind  wings,  and  some  in  also  having 
crests  on  their  pronotums  (see  Plate  XVIII).  They  are 
the  ones  which  make  a  noise  when  they  fly  and  sometimes 
a  male  will  hover  in  the  air  above  a  female  and  rattle  away 
for  dear  life,  meanwhile  showing  off  his  gay  hind  wings. 
When  at  rest  on  the  ground,  with  the  hind  wings  covered, 
they  are  very  difficult  to  see  because  of  their  protective 
coloration.  Dissosteira  Carolina  (Plate  XIX)  is  one  of 
the  commonest  species;  the  color  of  its  tegmina  varies 

69 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


from  blackish,  through  brown  and  reddish,  to  yellowish. 
The  sand-colored  species,  with  pale  yellow  and  black  hind 
wings,  so  common  on  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic  and  of  the 
Great  Lakes,  is  Trimerotropis  maritima.  In  Arphia  the 
crest  is  not  notched.  In  Psinidia  (antennae  of  male  longer 
than  the  hind  femora,  basal  joints  strongly  flattened;  our 
common  species  is  fenestralis,  whose  black-bordered  hind 
wings  vary  from  pale  yellow  to  red),  Trimerotropis,  and 
Circotettix  (hind  tibiae  dusky  towards  base  and  at  tip),  the 
crest  is  notched  twice.     Some  of  those  with  only  one  notch 


are: 


1.  Disk  of  hind  wing  nearly  transparent,  uncolored 2. 

Disk  of  hind  wing  opaque  or  colored 3. 

2.  Pronotum  roof-shaped  and  front  margin  angulatc. 
Chortophaga.  Our  common  species  is  viridifasciata;  it 
may  be  either  green  or  brown. 

Pronotum  flat  on  top  except  for  the  prominent  crest 
which  is  higher  in  front  than  behind;  front  margin  of 
pronotum  square-cut.  Encoptolophus.  In  sordidus  the 
base  of  the  hind  wings  is  yellow;  hind  tibiae  with  a  pale 
ring  near  the  base. 

3.  Body  robust;  lateral  ridges  of  pronotum  extending  in 
front  of  the  principal  groove  and  not  cut  by  it.  Hippiscns. 

Not    so 4- 

4.  Hind  wings  black  with  a  pale  border Dissosteira. 

Hind  wings  yellow  at  base  with  a  dark  median  band. 

Scirtetica  marmorata  (tegmina  marbled  with  grayish  and 
dark  blotches;  hind  femora  dark  at  apex  and  with  3  dark 
bands)  and  Spharagemon  (Plate  XVIII). 

Acrididag  with  the  pronotum  not  extend- 
ocus  inae  .^^  ^^  ^^^^  ^^^^  ^.^  ^^  ^^^^  abdomen  but  with 

a  prominent  spine  on  the  prosternum  (the  underside  of 
the  first  segment  of  the  thorax)  are  grouped  in  this  sub- 
family. There  are  numerous  species  and  even  the  common 
ones  cannot  be  satisfactorily  differentiated  without  going 
into  technicalities.  Schistocerca  americana  (Plate  XVIII) 
is  one  of  the  largest  in  size  and  strongest  in  flight  of  our 
grasshoppers;  another  species  is  called  damnifica,  a  name 
which  sounds  good  to  him  who  chases  these  "  Bird-locusts" 

70 


LONG-HORNED  GRASSHOPPERS. 


in  the  hot  sun.  Melanoplus  femur-rubrum  is  the  extremely 
common,  red-legged  grasshopper  of  our  fields,  very  similar 
to  AI.  spretus.  The  fat,  clumsy,  short-winged  "Lubber 
Grasshopper"  of  our  Southeast  is  Romalea  microptera 
and  the  almost  wingless  Lubber  of  our  Southwest  is 
Br  achy  pe  plus  magnus. 

1.  Tegmina,  especially  of  females,  over  an  inch  long. 

Schistocerca. 
Tegmina  rarely  an  inch  long 2. 

2.  General  color  green,  in  life;  the  least  distance  between 
the  eyes  less  than  i}4  times  the  width  of  the  second  an- 
tennal  joint.  Hesperotettix.  The  least  common  of  these 
four  genera. 

Usually  brownish ;  eyes  more  widely  separated 3. 

3.  Dorsal  surface  of  pronotum  not  twice  as  long  as  the 
average   breadth,   the   sides   constricted   at   the   middle. 

Melanoplus. 

Dorsal  surface  of  pronotimi  relatively  longer,  the  sides 

not  constricted  at  middle Paroxya. 

Tettigoniid^ 

A  proper  nickname  for  the  Acrididae  is  "Locusts."  This 
used  to  be  very  confusing  since  the  scientific  name  of  the 
long-horned  grasshoppers,  which  are  not  "Locusts,"  was 
Locustidae.  It  was  recently  discovered  by  some  of  those 
whose  business  it  is  to  find  out  such  things  that  "Locusti- 
dae" is  not  good  usage.  The  matter  is  still  sub  judice  but 
I  prefer  the  less  confusing  one.  The  Long-horned  Grass- 
hoppers may  be  distinguished  from  crickets  (Gryllidse) 
by  the  fact  that  their  wing-covers  slope  down  on  the  sides 
and  are  not  flat  above  except  for  a  short  space  near  the 
base.  Both  families  have  long  antennae;  the  males  of 
both  sing  or,  better,  fiddle  by  rubbing  their  wing  covers 
together;  and  both  listen  with  "ears"  which  are  situated 
near  the  upper  part  of  the  tibiae  of  their  front  legs. 

Among  those  genera  having  hind  wings,  Scudderia 
(tegmina  of  nearly  equal  breadth  throughout)  and  Ambly- 
corpha  (tegmina  widened  at  the  middle)  have  no  spines  on 
prostemum  or  vertex  but  have  one  on  each  side  of  the 

71 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


tip  of  the  hind  tibiae.  In  Pterophylla  the  tegmina  is 
broadly  expanded  in  the  middle  and  the  pronotum  is 
crossed  by  two  distinct  grooves. 

Few  have  not  heard  the  masculine  debates 
Pterophylla  ^^  ^^  whether  Katy  did  or  didn't,  but  many 
camellifoba  .  ,  ,        .   ,         .  ,  ,        ,. 

do  not  know,  by  sight,  either  the  disputant 

or  Katy,  both  of  whom  usually  stay  high  in  trees.  Plate 
XIX  shows  the  male;  the  musical  apparatus  is  at  the  base 
of  the  tegmina,  and  the  leaf-like  wing-covers  themselves, 
broadly  curving  entirely  around  the  body,  act  as  sounding 
boards.  The  female's  wing-covers  do  not  have  the  thick 
rasp-veins  at  their  bases;  and  at  the  hind  end  of  her 
abdomen  is  a  stout  scimitar-like  ovipositor  with  which  she 
places  her  eggs  in  the  bark  of  various  trees.  In  many  of 
the  older  books  this  species  is  called  Cyrtophyllus  concavus, 
ana  has  been  nicknamed  the  True  Katydid. 

The  "folia"  part  of  the  scientific  name 
Amblycorypha  ^^^^^^  ^^  ^^^  leaf-like  appearance  of  the 
oblongifoua 

front  wings.     Nearly  all  of  the  Katydids  are 

typically  green,  but,  like  some  other  green  insects,  they, 
and  especially  this  species,  have  brown  or  pink  "sports" 
(see  Plate  XIX).  The  figure  is  of  a  female  and  shows  the 
ovipositor.  The  "Oblong-leaf"  and  the  other  relatives  of 
the  True  Katydid  often  live  in  low  bushes. 

Under  this  general  head  we  may  group 

eadow  numerous  species  of  Neoconocephalus  (rather 

Grasshoppers  t,  •  -^i.    xi. 

large,    green    or   brown    species,    with    the 

front  of  the  head  more  or  less  prolonged  into  a  cone,  and 

with  spines  on  the  underside  of  the  front  and  middle 

femora),  Orchelimum  (usually  an  inch,  or  slightly  more, 

long;   females   have   stout   and   curved   or   sickle-shaped 

ovipositors),  and    Conocephalus   (smaller,   as  a  rule;   the 

ovipositor  is  slender  and  straight;  prostemal  spine  very 

short ;  see  Plate  XX).     Some  authors  class  Neoconocephalus 

with  Katydids  rather  than  with  Meadow  Grasshoppers 

and,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  these  insects  are  rather  partial  to 

bushy  fields.     The  name   Conocephalus  is  apt  to  cause 

some  trouble  to  those  who  consult  books  which   were 


Plate  XIX 


'  DissosteirQ 
caroHna 


^   >^ 


%; 


Pterophgllo  camelliioliQ 


AmblijcoryphQ  obionqiioliavfW 


/   -M^-     \ 


/ 


CEcQnthus 


\ 


Panchloro, 


CRICKETS. 

published  more  than  several  years  ago;  it  refers  to  what  is 
called  in  them  Xiphidium,  and  Conocephalus  in  such 
books  refers  to  what  should  be  called  Neoconocephalus. 
The  members  of  all  three  genera  have  the  habit  of  dodging 
around  to  the  other  side  of  the  grass-blade  or  weed-stalk 
when  you  approach,  rather  than  trusting  to  flight.  They 
place  their  eggs,  by  means  of  their  sharp  ovipositors,  in 
the  leaves  of  grasses,  pith  of  twigs,  and  in  similar  situations. 

All  grasshoppers  are  wingless  when  they 

Wingless  g^j.^    young    but    the    members    of    certain 

Grasshoppers  ,  .  ,  . 

genera  do  not  get  wings  even  when  mature. 

CeutJiophilus  (see  Plate  XX)  is  the  most  common  genus, 

especially  in  the  Northeast,  and  its  members  have  been 

nicknamed  "  Cave  Crickets  " ;  but  they  are  not  crickets  and, 

while  some  species  live  in  caves,   the  majorit}^  live  in 

cellars,  under  the  floors  of  out-buildings,  under  stones,  in 

hollow  logs,  and  the  like.     For  some  reason  they  are  also 

called  "Camel  Crickets."     Atlanticus  is  a  genus  usually 

found  under  fallen  leaves  in  woods;  its  male  members  still 

retain  remnants  of  the  front  wings,  and,  by  using  these, 

they   are    able    to   make    sounds.     Kellogg   says   of   the 

"Jerusalem    Crickets"  {Stenopehnatus)  which  live  on  the 

Pacific  Coast  that  they  are  large,  awkward,  thick-legged 

creatures  with  "baby-faces." 

Gryllid^ 

One  of  the  points  of  distinction  between  the  long-horned 
grasshoppers  and  Crickets  was  given  in  the  discussion  of 
Tettigoniidae;  another  is  that  the  ovipositors  of  crickets, 
when  long,  are  needle-like.  The  musical  apparatus  of  the 
males  (see  Plate  XX,  which  shows  also  an  "ear  "  on  a  front 
leg)  occupies  a  relatively  larger  portion  of  the  wing-covers 
than  it  does  among  the  Tettigoniidae.  Many  of  the 
species,  especially  of  Nemobius,  Gryllus,  and  Gryllotalpa, 
occur  in  two  forms:  one  with  short,  and  one  with  long, 
functional  hind  wings. 

g    .  These  creatures,  the  Mole-crickets  (Plate 

XX),   have   curiously  enlarged  front  legs, 

which  are  used  in  excavating  their  burrows;  the  hind 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS, 


femora  are  slender.  These  insects  are  almost  never  seen 
above  ground  except  at  the  mating  season  when  they  are 
sometimes  attracted  to  hghts.  They  usually  live  in  rather 
damp  soil  and,  in  some  countries,  do  great  damage  by 
eating  the  roots  of  seedHng  crops;  this  is  true  of  the 
"Changa"  in  Porto  Rico.  The  female  has  no  prominent 
ovipositor  but  places  her  eggs  in  a  loose  pile  in  her  burrow. 
A  related  genus,  Tridactyhis^  contains  species  less  than 
.4  in.  long;  the  front  tibiae  are  not  broadly  expanded  but 
have  three  or  four  spines  at  the  apex;  hind  femora  slender; 
tarsi  with  only  one  joint. 

The  large,   black  species  belong  to  the 
C?^lf  te*^  genus  Gryllns  (Plate  XX) ;  the  usually  more 

numerous,  small,  brown  species  are  Nemo- 
bius.  The  males  of  both  chirp  by  rubbing  the  file  on  the 
under  side  of  one  wing  against  the  roughened  surface  on  the 
upper  side  of  the  other.  Nemobius  is  almost  altogether 
vegetarian  but  I  have  never  quite  forgiven  the  omnivorous 
Gryllus  for  eating  holes  in  a  bathing  suit  which  was  left 
on  the  beach  to  dry.  Both  genera  place  their  eggs  singl}^ 
in  holes  which  they  make  in  the  ground  with  their  sharp- 
pointed  ovipositors.  Gryllus  is  relatively  tame;  and  not 
only  may  you  watch  the  male  chirping  in  a  desultory 
fashion  near  his  retreat  (such  as  a  burrow  or  under  an  old 
board),  or  angrily  challenging  another  male  to  battle,  or 
passionately  entreating  a  female,  but  you  may  make  pets 
of  them.  A  lantern  globe  set  on  soil  in  a  flower  pot  makes 
a  good  cage ;  feed  them  lettuce,  moist  bread  and,  especially 
if  you  have  a  niimerous  family  the  members  of  which  are 
inclined  to  eat  each  other,  some  bone  meal;  if  you  wish  to 
incubate  the  eggs,  water  the  soil  about  as  you  would  for 
plants.  Most  of  the  individuals  pass  the  winter  as  eggs 
but  some  hibernate  as  almost-mature  nymphs.  The 
"Cricket  on  the  hearth"  is  a  light-colored  European 
species  {Gryllus  domesticus)  which  is  sometimes  found  in 
greenhouses  and  dwellings  in  this  country. 

^       ,  There    are    numerous    species    of    these 

CEcantnus  .  _  .  ,  .  ,       ,  . 

dehcate,  greenish  or  greemsh-white  musi- 
cians, the  Tree-crickets.     One  of  the  principal  specific 

74 


Plate  XX 


Conocephalus 


Ceuthophilus 


ACnc.ket's 
Musical  apparatus 


GrglTotalpQ  borealis 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


characters  is  the  shape  and  arrangement  of  the  black  dots 
on  the  two  basal  joints  of  their  antennae.  However,  as  is 
the  case  with  other  groups  of  Orthoptera,  each  species  has 
a  tune  of  its  own  (the  tempo  depending  on  whether  it  is 
night  or  day,  sunshiny  or  cloudy,  warm  or  cold).  Some 
students  have  become  so  expert  in  Orthopteran  music 
that  they  have  detected  new  species  by  ear  even  though 
careful  study  was  needed  to  corroborate  their  opinions  as 
to  the  taxonomic  distinctness  by  discovering  other  char- 
acters. In  this  genus,  the  male  (Plate  XIX)  seems  to 
have  gone  largely  to  music — he  has  broad  front  wings  but 
a  relatively  small  body.  The  female,  whose  wings  are 
wrapped  closely  to  her  body,  lays  her  eggs  in  such  stems 
as  those  of  the  raspberry. 

Xabea,  a  related  genus,  has  no  spines  on  the  hind 
tibiae;  first  joint  of  antennae  with  a  blunt  tooth.  In 
bipunctata  the  hind  wings  are  nearly  twice  as  long  as  the 
tegmina;  the  creature  is  pinkish,  the  female  having  two 
black  spots  on  each  tegmen  (front  wing),  Anaxipha  has 
the  second  tarsal  joint  distinct,  flattened  vertically,  and 
heart-shaped;  exigua  is  less  than  .3  in.  long. 

ISOPTERA 

The  White  Ants  are  not  ants  at  all  but  more  closely 
related  to  the  other  insects  shown  on  Plate  XXI  or  to 
roaches.  Their  greatest  development  is  in  the  tropics. 
Our  principal  species  (others  occur  in  the  South  and  West) 
is  Termes  flavipes.  It  nests  in  or  under  old  logs  and 
stumps,  more  rarely  in  the  decaying  wood  of  houses.  Both 
males  and  fertile  females  (queens)  have  wings  which  they 
shed  after  their  marriage  flight.  The  males  soon  die  but 
the  queens  live  on  and  become  swollen  egg-layers.  A 
large  part  of  the  offspring  are  sterile,  wingless  females,  of 
which  there^are  two  kinds:  ordinary  workers  and  soldiers. 

CORRODENTIA 

There  are  two  families:  Atropid^e,  in  which  the  adults 
have  no  ocelli  and  the  wings  are  absent  or,  at  most,  a  single 
pair  of  small  ones  present;  and  Psocid^,  in  which  ocelli 

76 


Plate  XXI 


Worker  Soldier  Q"^^" 

Termes    flovipes 


Men6p6h  pQllidun,        boculus 


Phthinus 
inquinQ\i5 


11 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


are  present  and  wings  are  well  developed.  Of  the  Atro- 
pidae,  two  species  are  rather  common  in  old  books  and  on 
dusty  shelves:  Troctes  divinatorius  (Plate  XXI)  and  Atropos 
pulsatoria.  These  creatures  are  supposed  to  make  a 
ticking  soimd,  hence  the  name  Death-watch,  but  this  is 
doubtful.  They  are  also  called  Book-lice.  The  Psocidae 
may  be  found  in  groups  on  bark,  each  cluster  often  being 
covered  with  a  fine  silken  net  spun  from  their  mouths. 
Their  common  name  is  Bark-lice. 

Mallophaga 

Little  need  be  said  here  about  the  Bird-lice,  except  to 
refer  to  Plate  XXI  which  shows  a  common  Chicken-louse 
{Menopon  pallidum),  a  Pigeon-louse  (Lipeurus  baculus), 
and  the  egg  of  a  louse  on  the  peafowl.  Completeness 
demands  a  few  words  about  unpleasant  creatures,  but 
even  these  are  interesting.  Is  it  not  curious  that  a  given 
species  of  insect  should  be  confined  to  the  feathers  of  a 
single  species  of  bird  or  the  hairs  of  a  certain  sort  of 
mammal?  This  is  the  case  with  many  Mallophaga.  In 
other  cases,  the  same  species  of  Alallophaga  is  found  on  a 
given  kind  of  bird  in  the  Old  World  and  on  a  related  bird 
Tn  the  New  World,  indicating  that  evolution  has  been  less 
rapid  in  the  parasite  than  in  the  host.  The  winglessness 
of  these  insects  is  undoubtedly  a  secondary  matter— a 
"degeneration"  due  to  parasitism.  Unlike  the  true  hce, 
they  do  not  suck  blood  but  have  biting  mouth-parts  and 
feed  on  hair,  feathers,  and  epidermal  scales.  J^letamor- 
phosis  is  incomplete.  Really  these  creatures  are  not  bad 
looking  if  one  views  them  dispassionately  and  the  egg  of  at 
least  one  of  them  (see  the  picture  which  was  redrawn  from 
Bastin's  Insects)  is  most  striking. 

SlPHUNCULATA 

The  True  Lice  have  been  shifted  about  somewhat  in  the 
scheme  of  classification.  Some  put  them  as  an  appendix 
to  the  Hemiptera.  They  are  small,  wingless  parasites  of 
mammals,  including  man.  Their  eyes  are  either  absent  or 
much  reduced;  their  beak  is  fleshy  and  unjointed;  their 

78 


LICE  AND  THRIPS. 


tarsi  are  single-jointed,  forming  a  claw  at  the  end  of  the 
tibia.  Another  scientific  name  for  them  is  Parasita. 
Three  species  (Plate  XXI)  attack  man:  Pediculus  capitis, 
the  common  Head-louse;  Pediculus  vestimentiy  the  usually 
rare  Body-louse,  Clothes-louse,  or  Gray-back ;  and  Phthirius 
inguinalis,  the  Crab-louse  which  prefers  the  arm-pits 
and  pubic  regions.  Liberal  and  repeated  appHcations  of 
mercurial  ointment  are  "indicated"  for  the  last-named. 
A  fine-toothed  comb  and  keeping  the  hair  greased  with 
vaseline  are  usually  effective  in  killing  off  capitis.  A  more 
suddenly  effective  remedy  is  to  rub  kerosene  in  the  hair  at 
night,  WTap  the  head  in  a  cloth,  and  wash  out  the  kerosene 
the  next  morning;  repeat  in  two  or  three  days.  Most  of 
the  true  lice  which  attack  other  animals,  such  as  sheep, 
hogs,  oxen,  rabbits,  rats,  and  the  like,  belong  to  the  genus 
Hcematopinus. 

Thysanoptera 

The  narrow  insects,  usually  black  and  rarely  more  than 
.04  in.  long,  which  are  often  seen  in  flowers,  belong  to  this 
order;  also  the  Onion- thrips  {Thrips  tahaci)  and  Thrips 
in  general,  some  of  which  are  called  Black-flies  by  gar- 
deners. The  wings,  if  any,  are  very  narrow  and  fringed 
with  long  hairs.  The  feet  are  bladder-like.  The  mouth  is 
fitted  for  sucking  but  is  lop-sided,  only  the  left  mandible 
being  developed;  the  head  is  held  in  such  a  position  that 
the  mouth-parts  are  pressed  against  the  under  side  of 
the  thorax  and  concealed.  The  young  are  much  like  the 
adults  but  there  is  a  quiescent  stage,  just  before  the 
mature  one,  which  is  very  pupa-hke  and  during  which  no 
food  is  taken.  Some  species  (both  sexes  or  only  one) 
never  or  rarely  have  wings  and  sometimes  males  are 
absent  or  rare,  the  eggs  developing  without  fertilization. 
In  these  respects  they  are  like  aphids,  for  example.  Some 
species  live  under  bark  and  in  decaying  vegetation. 


7Q 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Hemiptera  in  General 

In  the  older  system  of  classification  "Hemiptera" 
included  insects  which  are  now  considered  by  some  good 
authorities  as  more  conveniently  classed  in  three  orders, 
including  Siphunculata  (p.  78).  They  all  have  sucking 
mouth  parts,  if  any,  and,  with  certain  exceptions,  incom- 
plete metamorphosis.  The  other  two  orders  (or  suborders) , 
which  have  jointed  beaks,  may  be  separated  as  follows: 

Each  wing  of  the  same  texture  throughout  and  usually 
sloping,  roof-Hke,  at  the  sides  of  the  body;  beak  arising 
from  the  hinder  part  of  the  lower  side  of  the  head;  the 
head  so  closely  joined  to  the  thorax  that  the  bases  of  the 
fore  legs  touch  the  sides  of  the  head Homoptera. 

Each  front  wing  with  the  base  usually  more  or  less 
thickened,  the  extremity  thinner;  wings  lying  flat  on  the 
back,  when  folded,  the  membranous  tips  overlapping; 
beak  arising  from  the  front  part  of  the  head ;  bases  of  front 
legs  not  touching  the  sides  of  the  head. , .  .Heteroptera 
or  Hemiptera,  in  the  limited  sense  (p.  95). 

Homoptera 

Members  of  this  group  differ  so  much  among  themselves 
that  several  families  will  probably  soon  be  classed  as 
separate  orders.  The  following  key  is  a  modification  of 
the  one  given  by  Brues  and  Melander. 

1.  Active,  free-living  species;  beak  plainly  arising  from 
the  head;  tarsi  3-jointed;  antennas  very  short,  with  a 
small,  terminal  bristle 2. 

Females  often  inactive  or  incapable  of  moving ;  beak 
appearing  to  arise  between  the  front  legs,  sometimes 
absent  in  males;  tarsi,  if  present,  i-  or  2-jointed;  antennae 
usually  well  developed  (sometimes  absent),  without 
conspicuous  terminal  bristle , 6. 

2.  Our  species,  usually,  at  least  .5  in.  long;  three  ecelli  on 
top  of  the  head;  antennae  with  short  basal  joint,  terminated 
by  a  haix'-Hke  process  which  is  divided  into  about  5  joints ; 
front   femora   thickened   and   generally   spined   beneath. 

ClCADID^  (p.  82). 

80 


KEY  TO  HOMOPTERA. 


Our  species  less  than  .5  in.  long;  usually  not  more  than 
two  ocelli,  and  front  tibiae  not  enlarged 3. 

3.  Antennae  arising  from  below  the  eyes;  ocelli  placed 
beneath  or  near  the  eyes,  usually  in  cavities  of  the  cheeks ; 

pronotum  not  tinusually  developed Fulgorid^e 

(p.  85)  in  a  broad  sense. 

Antennae  arising  from  in  front  of  and  between  the  eyes ; 
ocelli  (rarely  absent)  not  usually  below  the  eyes 4. 

4.  Pronotum  extending  back  over  the  abdomen 

MembraciD/E  (p.  84). 
Pronotum  not  extending  over  the  base  of  the  abdomen. 

5. 

5.  Tibiae  smooth,  the  hind  pair  with  one  or  two 
stout  spines  and  with  a  cluster  of  spinules  at  the 
apex , Cercopid^  (p.  86). 

Hind  tibiae  with  two  rows  of  spines  beneath 

ClCADELLID^  (p.  86). 
Leaf-hoppers  of  which  Jassinae  is  the  principal  subfamily. 

6.  Hind  femora  much  thickened;  antennae  long,  5-  to 
ID- jointed,  last  joint  with  two  fine  apical  bristles;  front 
wings  somewhat  thicker  than  the  hind,  often  rather 
leathery;  pad  between  the  tarsal  claws  prominent,  bilobed. 

Chermid^  (p.  86). 
Hind  femora  not  much  larger  than  the  others 7. 

7.  Tarsi  2-jointed,  the  basal  joint  sometimes  reduced, 
the  outer  joint  with  two  claws;  wings,  when  present,  four 
in  number;  mouth-parts  usually  well-developed  in  both 
sexes 8. 

Tarsi,  when  present,  i -jointed,  with  a  single  claw; 
females  always  wingless,  often  without  legs  and  usually 
covered  with  a  more  or  less  well-developed  scale;  males 
usually  with  a  single  pair  of  wings  which  lie  flat,  one  above 
the  other;  antennae  of  females  absent  or  having  up  to  11 
joints,  of  males  10-  to  25-jointed Coccid^  (p.  91). 

8.  Wings  usually  opaque,  whitish,  clouded  or  mottled 
with  spots  or  bands;  body  more  or  less  mealy;  tarsi  with 
2  nearly  equal  joints;  tip  of  tibiae  with  a  number  of  short 
spines;  a  pad-shaped  or  spine-like  process  between  the 
tarsal  claws Aleyrodid^  (p.  90). 

Wings  transparent,  though  sometimes  colored;  tarsi 
2-jointed,  the  basal  joint  sometimes  very  much  reduced; 
6  81 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


body   not   mealy,    but   rarely   with   waxy   wool;   process 

between  the  tarsal  claws  absent  or  nearly  so 

Aphidid^  (p.  87). 

CiCADIDvE 

These  are  called  Cicadas,  Harvest-flies,  and  Locusts. 
The  eggs  are  laid  in  twigs ;  the  newly-hatched  young  drops 
to  the  ground  and,  burrowing  into  it,  feeds  by  sucking  the 
juices  of  roots.  It  lives  in  this  way  for  some  time  (the 
length  depending  on  the  species),  its  appearance  changing 
but  slightly.  Finally,  it  digs  out  by  means  of  its  enlarged 
front  feet,  crawls  on  a  tree-trunk  or  some  such  thing,  splits 
down  the  back  and  Hberates  the  adult.  The  adult  m.ale 
"sings,"  often  very  loudly  and  shrilly,  by  vibrating 
membranes  stretched  over  a  pair  of  sound-chambers 
situated,  one  at  each  side,  near  the  base  of  the  abdomen. 

This  is  the  Periodical  Cicada  or  Seven- 

ibicina   ^  teen-year  Locust.     As  a  matter  of  fact,  it  is 

septendecim  .  .,_,', 

a  1  hirteen-year  Locust  in  the  South.     The 

adult  has  the  same  general  shape  (Plate  XXII)  as  its 
relatives  but  its  eyes  and  the  principal  veins  of  the  wings 
are  red.  There  is  nothing  mystical  in  this  color  or  the 
W  on  the  wings,  although  the  sudden  appearance  of  the 
adults  in  large  numbers  has  been  supposed  to  foretell  war. 
For  about  sixteen  years,  in  the  North,  the  yoimg  suck  at 
the  roots  of  plants.  Toward  the  end  of  this  period  scale- 
like rudiments  of  wings  appear.  In  the  spring  of  the 
17th  year  the  nymph  makes  its  way  to  the  surface  of  the 
ground  by  a  smooth  firm  tunnel.  Sometimes,  especially 
if  the  soil  be  moist  and  leaf-covered,  it  constructs  a 
"chimney"  over  the  exit-hole.  Then,  from  late  May  to 
early  July,  it  and  the  other  members  of  its  brood  crawl 
out  singly  or  in  droves  and,  fastening  on  some  support, 
disclose  the  adults  which  have  a  week  or  so  of  aerial  life 
to  recompense  them  for  the  long  period  of  preparation. 
There  are  a  score,  or  more,  of  different  broods,  each  of 
which  has  a  rather  definite — often  restricted — distribution 
and  time  of  emergence.  Suppose  there  are  three  such 
broods  in  your  neighborhood.     One  of  them  (that  is,  the 

82 


Plate  XXII 


Tibicina  septendecim 


A  CicQdid  nijmph 


xTcodid     Tibicen 
egq-scars  SQyi 

83 


CicQdQ 
hieroqIyphicQ 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


adults)  may  have  appeared  in  191 1;  its  next  appearance 
would  be  1928.  Another  might  be  19 16,  1933,  and  so  on; 
while  the  third  might  be  1919,  1936,  and  so  on.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  these  are  actual  broods  although  they  may 
not  be  the  ones  of  your  neighborhood.  However,  the 
example  shows  that  we  may  have  Seventeen-year  Cicadas 
oftener  than  every  seventeen  years,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
possibility  of  laggards  or  extra-spry  individuals,  in  the 
various  broods,  which  do  not  appear  on  schedule  time. 

There-  are  numerous  other  species  of  this  family.  It 
might  be  noted  that  the  name  Cicada  tibicen,  of  many 
books,  as  applied  to  one  (or  all !)  of  our  Harvest-flies,  is  an 
error.  Cicada  tibicen  probably  being  a  tropical  species. 
The  differentiation  of  species  is  based  largely  on  the  form 
of  the  male  genital  plates,  although  there  are  size-  and 
color-differences  and  an  attentive  ear  can  detect  differ- 
ences in  song.  Of  the  genus  Cicada  (as  now  limited,  = 
Tettigia),  the  small  hieroglyphica  (Plate  XXII),  with  an 
almost  transparent  abdomen,  may  be  found  in  pine 
barrens,  and  is  our  only  species.  Plate^XXII  also  shows  a 
common  species  of  Tibicen  which  is  fairly  typical  of  its 
genus,  the  common  one  in  our  region.  The  somewhat 
similar  Okanagana  is  more  common  in  the  West  than  with 
us. 

Membracid^ 

The  Tree-hoppers  have  been  aptly  called]Insect  Brownies. 
If  you  doubt  the  aptness  see  Plate  XXIII  or,  better,  look 
at  a  number  of  species,  full  in  the  face,  through  a  low- 
power  lens.  The  prothorax  is  variously  modified  and,  in 
some  of  the  tropical  species,  the  modifications  are  very 
extraordinary.  The  young  differ  from  the  adults  in  being 
more  normally  shaped.  Many  of  these  young  and  some 
of  the  adults  excrete  "honey-dew,"  much  as  aphids  do, 
and  are  eagerly  attended  by  ants  for  the  sake  of  this  fluid. 
All  of  the  species  suck  plant  juices  and  the  eggs  are  usually 
laid  in  the  tissues  of  the  food-plants.  They  are  called 
Tree-hoppers  because  most  of  the  species  live  on  trees  and 
low  bushes,  hopping  vigorously  when  disturbed.  They 
are   best   collected   by   beating  them   into   an   upturned 

84 


FULQORID/E :  LANTERN-FLIES. 


umbrella  but  the  collector  must  act  quickly  or  they  will 
hop  out  again. 

A  synopsis  of  the  genera,  by  Coding,  is  given  in  Trans- 
actions of  the  American  Entomological  Society,  vol.  xix. 
Plate  XXIII  shows  a  few  of  the  many  species.  Ceresa 
bubalus,  the  Buffalo  Tree-hopper,  is  often  injurious  to 
young  orchard  trees,  especially  apple,  by  reason  of  the 
scars  made  in  the  bark  when  the  females  lay  their  eggs. 
If  a  simple  slit  were  made,  it  would  not  be  so  bad  but  there 
are  two  sHts  at  each  place,  crossing  beneath  the  bark  and 
so  killing  the  intervening  part.  Most  of  the  young  leave 
the  trees  to  feed  on  nearby  weeds. 

FULGORIDiE 

The  prothorax  of  the  Membracids  is  over-developed  but 
the  Fulgorids  have  gone  to  head.  Fulgora  lanternaria 
(Plate  XXIII),  of  the  American  tropics,  is  an  extreme  type 
and  one  of  the  insects  which  is  commonly  sent  to  the 
Museum  as  a  great  rarity.  It  is  shown  here  partly  because 
it  illustrates  the  truth  that  weird-looking  things  are  not 
always  rare;  and  also  because  it  and  some  of  its  relatives 
have  given  the  common  name  of  Lantern-flies  to  the 
family.  There  are  circumstantial  stories  concerning  the 
luminosity  of  Fulgorid  heads  and  categorical  denials  of 
these  stories.  The  Noes  probably  have  it  but,  at  any 
rate,  the  name  sticks.  Plate  XXIII  shows  also  Scolops 
sulcipes,  which  is  fairly  comipon  in  our  region  on  grass 
and  other  plants,  especially  wiiere  the  ground  is  somewhat 
moist.  Other  species,  such  as?Acanalonia  hivittata  (Plate 
XXIII;  pink  specimens  are  not  uncommon),  have  a  more 
normal  head  and  frequently  look  like  small  moths.  Such 
species  are  often  covered  with  an  easily  rubbed  "meal" 
and,  in  the  tropics,  there  are  species  which  bear  so  many 
and  such  large  filaments  of  a  waxy  substance  that  other 
insects  live  in  the  excretion.  The  eggs,  as  far  as  I  know, 
are  laid  in  plant-tissue  but  although  there  are  many 
species  even  in  our  region — more  south  of  us — they  have 
not  been  well  studied.  Later  authors  spUt  the  family  into 
a  number  of  separate  families  or  subfamilies. 

85 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Cercopid^ 


The  Frog-hoppers  or  Spittle-insects  get  their  common 
names  by  being  broad,  squat,  hopping  creatures  whose 
young  Hve  in  masses  of  white  froth  (Plate  XXIII),  sucking 
sap.  "The  spittle  is  a  viscid  fluid  expelled  from  the  ali- 
mentary canal  of  the  insects  and  beaten  up  into  a  froth 
by  the  whisking  about  of  the  body.  What  advantage  it 
is  to  the  yotmg  insects  is  hard  even  to  conjecture;  it  cer- 
tainly is  not  known ' '  (Kellogg) .  Possibly  it  is  a  protection 
against  drying  out  and  it  is  said  to  harden  into  a  protective 
shell  when  the  insect  molts. 

ClCADELLID^ 

These  are  the  Leaf-hoppers.  In  the  South,  the  species 
which  attack  cotton  have  been  named  Sharpshooters  and 
Dodgers.  All  of  our  numerous  species  are  small  and  occur 
on  vegetation  of  various  kinds,  especially  grasses.  Doubt- 
less the  small  amount  of  sap  taken  by  each  of  thousands 
of  individuals  amounts  to  a  great  deal  per  acre  of  grass- 
land, vineyard,  and  orchard.  Plate  XXIII  shows  Grapho- 
cephala  coccinea.     This  family  has  been  called  Jassidas. 

CHERMIDiE 

The  Jimiping  Plant-lice  are  usually  described  as  re- 
sembling miniature  Cicadas.  The  antennae  are  long  and 
the  wings  are  transparerrt.  Some  of  the>pecies,  especially 
of  the  genus  Pachypsylla,  produce  galls,  while  others  feed 
in  exposed  situations  on  the  leaves.  Probably  the  most 
injurious  species  is  the  Pear  Psylla,  Psylla  pyricola.  It 
was  introduced  from  Europe  about  1832.  "Usually  the 
first  indication  of  the  pest  is  the  presence  of  large  quantities 
of  honey-dew,  secreted  by  the  nymphs,  with  which  the 
foliage  becomes  covered,  and  which  attracts  numerous 
ants.  When  the  psyllas  are  numerous  the  leaves  and  fruit 
become  coated  with  this  sticky  substance  and  it  even  drops 
from  them  like  rain  and  runs  down  the  trunk.  ["Weeping 
trees"  are  caused  by  a  number  of  different  Homoptera.] 
A  blackish  fungus  grows  on  the  honey-dew  and  is  always  a 

86 


Plate  XXIII 


Seo!ops 
s  u  1  c  i  p  e  5 


A  i|oun>^ 
Cercoptd 

in   its  "sDittit" 


^  Acanalonia 
biviltatQ 


V, 


CeresQ 
bubalus 


ifophocephala 
Eqq  s^ars  ol  ,      coccinca 
Cereso.  bubalus 


'/ 


\ 


ArchasiQ   . 
beiiraqei 


Theiia  bimaculatQ 

^^'"^  EntqliQ  ^        -     .  .   • 

^   ^^inuQtG        Telamona' Qnrpelop^5idi5 


PLANT-LICE. 

good  indication  of  the  presence  of  the  psylla.  .  .  .  The 
adult  is  about  one-tenth  inch  long,  of  a  reddish  crimson 
color  with  brownish-black  markings,  bronzy  eyes  and  dark 
wing-veins.  .  .  .  The  egg  is  about  one-eighteenth  inch 
long,  hardly  perceptible  without  a  lens,  and  orange- 
yellow  in  color.  It  is  pear-shaped  with  the  small  end  drawn 
out  into  a  long  thread"  (Sanderson). 

APHIDIDiE 

In  his  memoir  on  insects  affecting  park  and  woodland 
trees  Dr.  Felt  has  a  section  which  he  entitles  "The  Battle 
of  the  Weak  or  Interesting  Facts  about  Aphids."  The 
title  is  striking  and  true.  These  creatures  (Plate  XXIV) 
are  called  Plant-lice,  Green  Flies,  Blight  (from  the  damage 
they  do)  and  other  things  also.  They  are  among  the  most 
injurious,  the  most  interesting,  and  the  most  puzzling  of 
insects.  It  would  be  difficult  to  improve  on  some  of  the 
many  general  accounts  of  their  life  cycle;  as  Dr.  Felt  has 
just  been  mentioned,  his  summary  may  be  quoted :  "Many 
of  the  species  pass  the  winter  in  what  we  know  as  the 
winter  egg,  which  is  usually  deposited  in  crevices  of  the 
bark  or  at  the  base  of  buds  or  branches,  where  it  remains 
during  the  winter.  The  young  hatch  therefrom  in  some 
cases  at  least  at  about  the  time  the  foliage  begins  to 
develop  and  in  other  instances  not  till  well  toward  mid- 
summer, establish  themselves  at  some  favorable  situation 
and  begin  to  draw  nourishment  from  the  unfolding  tissues. 
These  young  are  all  females  and  in  the  language  of  science 
are  known  as  '  stem  mothers. '  They  usually  begin  to 
produce  young  in  a  few  days  after  hatching  from  the  egg 
and  these  are  also  females  and  in  turn  produce  others. 
This  method  of  reproduction  is  what  is  known  as  agamic 
or  asexual  and  differs  from  the  ordinary  in  that  males  have 
no  part  in  the  process.  A  number  of  generations  may  be 
produced  in  this  way,  the  adults  being  wingless,  and  after 
a  time,  usually  at  the  end  of  a  certain  number  of  genera- 
tions, winged  females  aevelop.  These  latter  forsake  the 
original,  usually  by  this  time  crowded,  food-plant  and 
either  fly  to  similar  ones  in  the  neighborhood  or,  as  in  the 
case  of  some  species,  betake  themselves  to  entirely  different 

87 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


plants,  where  another  series  of  wingless  agamic  or  asexual 
generations  are  brought  forth.  This  may  continue  for 
some  time  and  after  a  certain  number  of  generations  the 
plants  again  become  crowded,  winged  females  are  produced 
and  there  may  be  a  return  migration  to  the  original  food 
plant,  where  one  or  more  generations  may  be  produced 
and  ultimately  perfect  males  and  females,  which  latter 
pair  and  deposit  eggs  in  crevices  of  the  bark  or  other 
shelters,  as  stated  above,  and  remain  unhatched  over 
winter." 

This  changing  from  one  mode  of  reproduction  to  another 
and  from  one  food  plant  to  another,  together  with  still  other 
complications,  is  very  confusing.  Lichtenstein  has  noted 
twenty-one  different  forms  assumed  by  Phylloxera  quercus 
in  its  Hfe-cycle.  It  is  probable  that  the  four  hundred  or 
so  forms  which  have  been  described  from  the  United 
States  as  distinct  species  include  phases  of  a  smaller  num- 
ber of  real  species,  but  it  is  certain  that  many  species  are 
still  undescribed. 

[  A  common  species  on  apple  is  Aphis  malt.  Professor 
Webster  said  concerning  it:  "It  would  appear  almost 
visionary  to  advocate  spraying  apple  orchards  in  mid- 
winter to  protect  the  wheat  crop,  but  nevertheless  one  of 
the  most  serious  enemies  of  young  fall  wheat  passes  its  egg 
stage  on  the  twig  of  the  apple  during  the  winter  season." 
The  Woolly  Apple-aphis,  Schizoneura  lanigera  (Plate 
XXIV),  secretes  a  waxy  substance,  which  accounts  for 
its  name.  It  is  often  seen  on  twigs  and  around  wounds, 
clustered  in  bluish-white  masses  that  look  like  mold,  but 
the  individuals  which  are  probably  doing  the  most  damage 
are  feeding  upon  the  roots  where  they  cause  gall-like 
swellings.  Phylloxera  vastatrix  is  one  of  the  few  Ameri- 
can insects  which  have  become  injurious  in  Europe. 
With  us  it  forms  galls  on  grape  leaves  (see  p.  470)  but 
is  not  usually  found  on  the  roots;  in  Europe  it  rarely 
attacks  the  leaves  but  forms  galls  on  the  roots,  causing 
them  to  decay. 

Aphids  excrete  a  sweetish  substance,  called  honey-dew, 
which  is  much  sought  after  by  ants.  In  fact,  aphids  are 
called  "ants'  cows"  and  many  species  of  ants  go  to  con- 
siderable trouble  to  care  for  them.     A  variety  of  Lasius 

88 


Plate  XXIV 


Aspidiotus  Qncylus  Aspidiotus  {orbesi 

8q 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


niger  is  an  ant  which  attends  to  the  Com-root  Aphis, 
Aphis  maidi-radicis.  During  the  winter  this  ant  stores 
the  small  black  eggs  of  the  aphis  in  its  nests,  moving  them 
from  place  to  place  as  the  weather  changes.  The  eggs 
start  to  hatch  in  early  spring  and  the  ants  uncover  the 
roots  of  smart  weed  and  of  other  plants  in  order  to  pasture 
their  cows.  When,  how-ever,  corn  is  planted,  they  transfer 
the  aphid  stock  to  the  com  roots,  including  such  winged 
aphids  as  may  have  developed  and  strayed  from  the  fold. 
A  female  aphis  does  not  lay  manj^  eggs  as  compared 
with  insects  in  general,  but  development  is  so  rapid  (ten 
days  is  not  unusual,  the  eggs  frequently  hatching  before 
they  are  laid  so  that  birth  is  given  to  Uving  young)  and 
there  are  so  many  generations  a  season  that  the  end  result 
would  be  extermination  of  all  life  by  the  destruction  of 
vegetation  if  it  were  not  for  counteracting  agencies.  Some 
aphids  are  protected  by  ants,  some  by  waxy  secretions, 
some  by  foldings  and  galls  produced  in  leaves  and  other 
parts  of  plants  by  their  presence,  but  all  are  injured  by 
damp  weather,  by  fungi  and  by  insect  enemies.  Among 
the  latter  might  be  mentioned  Coccinelidas,  Syrphidae,  and 
Chrysopidse,  which,  together  with  less  important  enemies, 
devour  them  from  the  outside.  But  we  should  not  over- 
look the  Chalcididae,  which  feed  internally.  Look  at  the 
aphid  colonies  on  a  rose  bush  and  you  are  almost  certain  to 
see  the  dried  shells  of  individuals  which  have  been  para- 
sitized by  these,  our  friends,  a  small  hole  in  each  showing 
where  the  Hymenopteron  had  emerged. 

Aleyrodid^ 

This  is  the  White-fly  family.  Aleyrodes  vapor ariorum 
(Plate  XXIV)  is  the  species  most  often  found  on  house- 
plants.  The  adults  of  both  sexes  have  four  wings  and 
seem  to  be  covered  with  flour ;  their  wing  expanse  is  usually 
less  than  an  eighth  of  an  inch.  The  young  somewhat 
resemble  scale-insects.  As  seen  through  a  lens,  they  are 
rather  pretty,  usually  shiny  black  with  white,  wax-like 
rods  and  tufts.  Each  egg  is  mounted  on  a  small,  curved 
stem.  Probably  the  majority  of  the  American  species  are 
still  undescribed;  they  rarely  appeal  to  amateurs  and,  for 
the  most  part,  they  are  of  little  economic  importance. 

90 


SCALE=INSECTS. 


COCCID^ 


"The  family  includes  a  number  of  quite  different-looking 
insects,  as  the  True  Scale-insects  or  Bark-lice,  the  Mealy- 
bugs, and  others  for  which  we  not  even  have  a  popular 
name.  They  are  a  very  anomalous  family,  and  the 
species  differ  very  greatly  in  appearance,  habits,  and 
metamorphoses  from  the  other  allied  families  already 
described.  Even  the  sexes  of  the  same  species  differ  as 
much  in  the  adult  stage  as  do  the  members  of  different 
orders.  The  males,  unlike  all  other  Hemiptera,  undergo  a 
complete  metamorphosis,  but  possess  only  a  single  pair  of 
wings.  The  hind  wings  are  simply  represented  by  a  pair 
of  club-like  halteres,  as  is  the  case  in  the  Diptera  or  Two- 
winged  Flies.  Each  of  these  halteres  is  furnished  with  a 
hooked  bristle,  which  fits  in  a  pocket  on  the  upper  wing 
on  the  same  side.  The  males  possess  no  mouth.  .  .  . 
The  female  is  always  without  wings  and  has  either  a  scale - 
like  or  a  gall-like  form,  and  is  covered  with  larger  or 
smaller  scales  of  wax,  which  may  be  in  the  form  of  powder, 
of  large  tufts  or  plates,  of  a  continuous  layer,  or  of  a  thin 
scale.  Beneath  this  protecting  substance  lives  the  insect. 
.  .  .  All  scale-insects  are  plant-feeders,  and  like  the 
plant-lice  obtain  liquid  food  by  means  of  suction.  But 
not  all  are  injurious,  as  some  furnish  dye-stuffs,  shellac,  or 
wax"  (Lugger). 

All  scale-insects  are  injurious  to  the  plants  upon  which 
they  feed,  but  what  Prof.  Lugger  meant  was  that,  as  far 
as  man  is  concerned,  the  harm  which  certain  species  do  is 
more  than  counterbalanced  by  the  benefits  we  derive 
from  them.  The  manna  wliich  fed  the  Children  of  Israel 
was  honey-dew  secreted  by  a  scale-insect.  It  is  still 
eaten.  Shellac  is  derived  from  the  scale  of  Carteria  lacca 
in  India  and  the  insect  itself  contains  a  red  substance 
called  "lake."  Before  the  present  extensive  use  of  aniline 
dyes,  coloring  matter  was  derived  from  a  niimber  of 
different  species  of  Coccidse,  especially  from  the  Cochineal 
Insect,  Coccus  cacti,  of  Mexico.  The  natives  of  the  island 
of  St,  Vincent  make  necklaces  from  the  encysted  pupae  of 
Margarodes,  calling  them  "ground-pearls." 

91 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Coccidas  sometimes  produce  living  young  and  reproduce 
without  sexual  union,  but  these  phenomena  are  not  so 
general  as  among  the  Aphididae.  A  single  female  Coccid 
may  give  birth  to  thousands  of  young,  but  these  do  not 
reach  maturity  as  quickly  as  do  the  plant-lice.  The  males 
of  many  species  of  scale-insects  are  unknown,  probably 
because  their  small  size  and  short  life  have  caused  them 
to  be  overlooked,  rather  than  because  they  are  rare  or 
absent. 

Three  of  the  subfamilies  are  of  especial  economic  im- 
portance to  us;  they  are  the  Dactylopinae  or  Mealy  Bugs, 
the  CoccinEe  or  Soft  Scales,  and  the  Diaspinae  or  Armored 
Scales. 

Dactylopinae 

The  female  Mealy  Bug  undergoes  but  little  change  of 
form  as  it  matures  and  it  is  able  to  move  about.  No  real 
scale  is  formed,  at  most  a  sort  of  cottony  sac,  and  this 
usually  only  when  the  insect  is  nearly  full-grown. 

A  common  species  in  greenhouses  is  P seudococcus  citri. . 
The  oval  body  is  bordered  by  a  white  fringe  and  covered 
with  a  mealy  deposit.  The  eggs  are  laid  under  the  female 
in  a  loose  nest  of  sticky,  white  fibers  in  such  quantities 
that  she  is  forced  to  stand  on  her  head  in  order  to  feed. 

Phenacoccus  acericola  frequently  occurs  in  great  numbers 
on  maple  leaves.  The  female  is  light  yellow  but  covered 
with  a  mass  of  powdery,  slightly  stringy,  white  wax  about 
three  times  her  ov^n  bulk. 

Various  species  of  Kermes  occur  on  oak.  The  adult 
females  are  relatively  large  and  look  like  galls. 

Coccinae 

The  Soft  Scales  are  usually  of  considerable  size  as  com- 
pared with  other  scale -insects;  their  surface  is  rather 
waxy  and  their  form  more  or  less  convex.  Such  "scale" 
as  they  have  is  merely  the  thickened  surface  of  the  insect 
itself  and  not  a  separate  structure. 

Females  of  Pulvinaria  secrete  a  mass  of  cottony  material 
in  which  they  place  their  eggs.    P.  innumerahilis  is  the 

92 


THE  SAN  JOSE  SCALE. 


common  Cottony  Scale  of  maple,  and,  to  a  lesser  extent, 
of  elm,  grape,  Mrginia  Creeper,  and  other  plants.  When 
common,  the  ground  or  pavement  beneath  them  becomes 
covered  with  a  black,  sticky  substance,  the  honey-dew, 
upon  which  a  peculiar  fungus  grows. 

Eulecaniiim  is  a  large  genus,  some  members  of  which 
are  likely  to  be  found  in  every  yard  that  contains  fruit. 
The  females  lay  their  eggs  under  their  bodies  but  do  not 
secrete  a  cottony  covering.  E.  nigrofasciatiim  is  the 
Terrapin  Scale  of  the  peach  and  other  trees.  E.  pruino- 
sum  is  the  Frosted  Scale  of  fruit  and  forest  trees.  Tulip 
trees  should  be  examined  for  E.  tuUpifercB;  it  is  one  of  the 
largest  Soft  Scales  of  our  region. 

Several  species  of  Saissetia  are  frequently  found  on 
palms,  ferns,  and  other  house-plants. 

Diaspinse 

These  are  the  scale-insects.  Their  body  is  covered  by  a 
shell,  which  is  composed  in  part  of  m.oulted  skins  and  in 
part  of  a  secretion  from  the  body  itself. 

With   good   reason,    this    (Plate   XXIV) 
Aspidiotus  £g  ^j^g  scale  most  often  inquired  about.     It 

is  the  Pernicious  or  San  Jose,  and  is  so  small 
(about  .06  in.  long  at  most)  that  it  is  not  usually  noticed 
until  it  has  become  destructively  abundant.  Felt  says: 
"  Trees  which  have  been  badly  infested  for  some  time  have 
a  rough  bark  covered  with  dark  gray,  scurfy  patches,  and, 
if  this  be  scratched  with  a  knife  or  finger  nail,  an  oily 
yellowish  substance  will  be  crushed  from  the  living  insects 
under  the  scales.  This  insect  breeds  so  rapidly  that  it  is 
not  uncommon  to  find  large  numbers  on  a  tree  previously 
comparatively  free.  In  that  event  the  bark  m.ay  be 
literally  covered  with  recently  established  scales  and  not 
appear  very  rough.  There  is,  however,  a  peculiar,  granu- 
lar look,  and  those  familiar  with  the  bark  of  a  rapidly 
growing  tree  are  aware  that  some  change  has  taken  place. 
There  is  noticing  Hke  a  good  magnifier  in  these  cases, 
and,  if  this  shows  hundreds  of  circular,  black  or  dark  gray 
objects,  with  dot  and  ring,  or  lighter  gray,  yellowish 
marked  scales,  send  a  sample  of  the  bark  to  somebody 

93 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


competent  to  identify  the  trouble.  Cutting  into  the 
bark  under  a  San  Jose  scale  is  almost  sure  to  reveal  a 
reddish  discoloration  of  the  green  tissues  beneath.  .  .  . 
The  winter  is  passed  by  this  insect  in  a  partly  grown, 
dormant  condition.  Vital  activities  are  resumed  with  the 
approach  of  warm  weather,  and  the  first  outward  indications 
of  life  are  seen  in  the  appearance  of  winged  males  and  later 
of  the  crawling  young,  the  latter  of  which  appear  in  this 
latitude  [New  York]  toward  the  last  of  June.  .  .  .  The 
females  continue  to  produce  young  for  a  period  of  about 
six  weeks,  each  averaging  about  400,  or  from  nine  to  10 
every  24  hours.  This  is  an  ovo-viviparous  species.  That 
is,  the  eggs  develop  within  the  mother  and  the  young  are 
bom  alive.  They  piay  be  seen  as  tiny  yellow  specks  escap- 
ing from  under  the  maternal  scale,  from  which  they  wander 
in  search  of  a  favorable  place  to  establish  themselves. 
.  .  .  The  development  of  the  scale  begins,  even  before 
the  young  has  selected  its  feeding  place,  as  very  minute, 
white,  waxy  filaments,  which  spring  from  all  parts  of  the 
body,  rapidly  become  thicker,  and  slowly  mat  down  to 
form  the  circular  white  scale  with  a  depressed  ring  and 
central  elevation.  .  .  .  Thus  the  round  of  life  may  be  com- 
pleted, as  determined  from  a  study  of  the  female,  in  from 
33  to  40  days.  The  detailed  studies  made  at  Washington 
show  that  four  full  generations  are  developed  normally 
in  that  latitude  and  that  there  may  be  a  partial  fifth." 
The  fact  that  this  insect  lives  on  a  great  variety  of  woody 
plants  makes  eradication  difficult;  we  must  spray  more 
than  the  few  trees  we  care  about.  If  you  have  it,  notify 
your  State  Entomologist  and  do  not  trust  to  Jim  Jones 
around  the  corner,  who  says  he  can  kill  it  for  you.  It  is  a 
native  of  eastern  Asia;  San  Jose,  California,  is  connected 
with  it  merely  because  the  specimens  upon  which  the 
first  scientific  description  was  based  came  from  there. 

Lepidosaphes  ulmi,  called  Mytilaspis  pomorum  in  many 
publications,  is  the  Oyster-shell  Scale.  It  infests  a  variety 
of  trees,  including  apple,  and  is  well  described  by  its  com- 
mon name,  although  the  oyster-shell  shape  is  not  entirely 
diagnostic.  The  small  end  of  the  tapering,  slightly  curved 
scale  is  usually  yellowish.  See  Plate  XXIV  for  it  and 
other  species. 

94 


TRUE  BUGS. 

HETEROPTERA 

Or  True  Hemiptera 

For  the  general  characteristics  of  the  True  Bugs  see 
p. 80.  In  the  following  key  rare  families  have  been  omitted ; 
see  Brues  and  Melander,  or  Parshley  in  Psyche,  Vol. 
XXII.  Nymphs  may  usually  be  distinguished  from 
wingless  adults  (such  as  occur  in  certain  families)  by  the 
fact  that  most  nymphs  have  two  pairs  of  pimple-like 
stink-glands  near  the  middle  of  the  back  of  the  abdomen. 
When  the  basal  part  ("corium")  of  the  front  wings  is 
thickened,  the  apical  unthickened  part  is  called  the  "mem- 
brane ";  the  triangular  area,  when  present,  at  the  tip  of  the 
corium  is  called  the  "cuneus." 

1.  Antennae  shorter  than  the  head  and  usually  nearly  or 
quite  concealed;  living  in  or  near  water 2. 

Antennae  longer  than  the  head  (if  sightly  shorter, 
the  eyes  and  ocelli  are  absent),  usually  free,  rarely  (Phy- 
matidae)  lying  in  a  groove 8 

2.  Ocelli  present ;  littoral ;  not  .5  in.  long 3 

Ocelli  absent;  aquatic 4 

3.  Antennae  hidden;  front  legs  stout,  formed  for  grasping 
broad,  squat,  roughened  bugs  with  prominent  eyes 
Gelastocorid^,  also  called  Galgulid^  and  Nethridae 
These  predaceous  Toad-bugs  frequent  muddy  banks 
Gelastocoris  ( =  Galgulus)  is  our  principal  genus  (Plate  XX  V) ; 
the  front  tarsi  have  2  claws.  Mononyx  of  the  West  and 
Nerthra  of  the  South-east  have  but  i  claw  on  these. 

Antennae  not  hidden;  front  legs  slender,  as  long  as 
middle  ones,  formed  for  running.  Ochterid^.  Re- 
sembles the  preceding  in  form  and  habits.  Ochterus  is  our 
only  genus. 

4.  Hind    tarsi    without    distinct    claws    (except    Plea, 
p.  102) ;  front  legs  not  specially  formed  for  grasping 5. 

Each  hind  tarsus  with  2  claws;  front  legs  formed  for 
grasping 6. 

95 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS, 


5.  Body  flat  above;  top  of  head  free  from  pronotum; 
front  tarsi  flattened,  i -jointed,  without  claws,  edges 
fringed;  beak  with  not  more  than  2  joints,  hidden 
CoRixiD^      (p.  99). 

Body  convex  above  and  pronotiun  overlapping  the 
head;  front  tarsi  normal,  2-clawed;  beak  3-  or  4-jointed 

NOTONECTID^     (p.  100). 

6.  Membrane  with  veins 7. 

Membrane  without  veins.  Naucorid^.  They  re- 
semble Gelastocoridse  (3)  but  do  not  have  prominent  eyes, 
and  crawl  about  on  submerged  plants.  Pelocoris  is  our 
only  genus.  P .  femoratus  is  a.ho\it  .4  in.  long;  pronotum 
shiny  yellow  or  light  brown,  marked  with  nimierous  dark 
spots;  front  wings  dark  brown  with  a  light  shoulder-area. 
Ambry sus  occurs  in  the  West. 

7.  Apical  appendages  of  abdomen  long  and  slender,  not 
retractile ;  hind  legs  formed  for  walking .  . .  NEPiDiE  (p.  100). 

Such  appendages  short,  flat,  and  retractile;  hind  legs 
flattened  for  swimming Belostomid^  (p.  99) . 

8.  Head  shorter  than  thorax,  including  scutellum 9. 

Head  as  long  as  entire  thorax;  body  and  legs  slen- 
der  HVDROMETRIDiE      (p.  IO4), 

9.  Last  tarsal  joint  divided,  claws  back  of  tip;  front 
wings,  if  present,  of  rather  uniform  texture  throughout. .  lo. 

Last  tarsal  joint  not  divided,  claws  at  tip ii. 

10.  Middle  and  hind  legs  very  long,  close  together 
and  distant  from  the  front  pair;  beak  4-jointed  but  the 
first   joint   short GERRiDiE     (p.  103). 

Middle  and  hind  legs  not  very  long,  more  equally 
spaced;  beak  3- jointed Veliid^   (p.  103). 

11.  Antennae  5-jointed 12. 

Antennae  4-jointed  (Do  not  count  either  the  tubercle 

which  bears  the  antennae  or  the  minute  intermediate 
segments  which  are  sometimes  present) 13. 

12.  First  and  second  antennal  segments  thicker  than 
the  others;  minute  bugs  living  on  surface  of  water. 
Hebrid^.     Hebrus,  our  only  genus. 

First  antennal  segment  thick,   second  slender;   scu- 
tellum rather  large 27. 

13.  Prostemum  with  a  median,  longitudinal,  striated 
or  granulated,  stridulatory  groove  visible  in  front  of  front 

96 


THE  FAMILIES  OF  TRUE  BUGS. 


coxae,  receiving   the  tip  of   the  beak,  which  is  3-jointed, 

short,  and  strong;  length  not  less  than  .2  in 14. 

Prosternimi  without  a  stridulatory  groove;  size 
large  or  small 16. 

14.  Body  very  long  and  slender,  almost  thread-like 
Emesid^     (p.  108). 

Body  not  so 15. 

15.  Terminal  segment  of  antennae  thickened,  front  legs 
stout  and  much  modified  for  grasping;  membrane  with 
numerous  veins;  tarsi  2-jointed Phymatid^  (p.  no). 

Terminal  segment  of  antennae  thread-like;  front 
legs  usually  much  like  the  others;  membrane  with  few  veins; 
tarsi  3-jointed Reduviid^    (p.  107). 

16.  Front  wings  wholly  membranous  and,  for  the  most 
part,  with  a  dense  network,  sometimes  resembling 
lace;  cheeks  raised,  forming  a  groove  which  includes 
the  base  of  the  beak;  tarsi  2-jointed;  flat  bugs  of  small 
size TiNGiDiD^     (p.  1 10). 

Not  such  insects 17. 

17.  Beak  really  or  apparently  3-jointed 18. 

Beak  4-jointed;  first  segment  sometimes  short 22. 

18.  Body  convex  below,  fiat  or  slightly  concave  above; 
often  wingless;  small,  aquatic,  predatory  bugs,  usually 
found  on  floating  vegetation.  Mesoveliid^.  Mesovelia 
mulsanti,  our  only  species. 

Not  such  insects 19. 

19.  Tarsi  2-jointed;  broad,  flat  bugs,  living  under  bark; 
head  produced  between  antennae;  abdomen  broader  than 
the  closed  wings Aradid^    (p.  1 12). 

Tarsi  3-jointed 20. 

20.  Ocelli  present 21. 

Ocelli   and    wings   usually   absent   or   rudimentary; 

parasitic  on  vertebrates Cimicid^    (p.  106). 

21.  Front  wings  with  a  cuneus,  membrane  without  long 
closed  cells,  sometimes  without  veins;  small,  predatory 
bugs Anthocorid^. 

Front  wings  without  a  cuneus,  membrane  with  4  or  5 
long  closed  cells;  adults  always  fully  winged;  small  flat- 
tened bugs  with  large,  projecting  eyes.  .Saldid.e  (p.  102). 

22.  Ocelli  absent 23. 

Ocelli  present 24. 

7  97 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


23.  Membrane  with  two  large  cells  at  base  from  which 
extend  about  8  branching  veins;  no  cuneus;  rather  large, 
strong  bugs Pyrrhocorid^e  (p.  i  loj. 

Membrane  with  one  or  two  small  cells  at  base,  rarely 
with  longitudinal  veins;  distinct  cuneus;  first  joint  of  beak 
rarely  shorter  than  the  head Mirid^  (p.  105). 

24.  Front  legs  modified  for  grasping,  the  tibia:  and 
usually  the  femora  armed  with  rows  of  numerous,  closely 
set,  fine  spines;  first  joint  of  beak  very  small.  Nabid^, 
the  Damsel-bugs.  They  are  usually  yellowish  or  black, 
rather  flattened,  predaceous,  and  found  on  flowers  or 
leaves.  Nahis  ( =  Reduviolus  and  Coriscus)  is  our  principal 
genus. 

Front  legs  usually  much  like  the  others;  first  seg- 
ment of  beak  usually  longer  than  wide 25. 

25.  Body  very  slender;  antennae  elbowed,  the  first 
joint  long  and  clubbed,  the  last  joint  spindle-shaped; 
head  constricted  in  front  of  the  eyes;  femora  clubbed 
Neidid^   (p.  112), 

Not  such  insects 26. 

26.  Antennae  usually  inserted  on  or  below  a  line  drawn 
from  the  eye  to  the  base  of  the  beak;  membrane  usually 
with  5,  simple  veins Lyg^id^  (p.  iii). 

Antennae  starting  from  well  up  on  the  sides  of  the 
head;  membrane  usually  with  numerous,  forked  veins 
arising  from  a  transverse  basal  vein  (these  veins  sometimes 
hard  to  see) Coreid^  (p.  113). 

27.  Scutellum  nearly  flat,  narrowed  behind 28. 

Scutellum  very  convex,  covering  nearly  the  whole 

abdomen 29. 

28.  Tibiae  usually  with  no  (or  very  fine,  short)  spines 

PENTATOMIDiE  (p.  1 13). 

Tibiae  with  rows  of  strong  spines.  Cydnid^.  Some- 
times classed  as  a  subfamily  of  Pentatomidag. 

29.  Pronotum  round  in  front  and  nearly  straight  behind; 
margins  of  scutellum  with  furrows  in  which  the  edges  of 
the  wings  fit  when  at  rest;  tibiae  strongly  spinose.  Sub- 
family Thyreocorinae   of  Cydnidee;   has  also  been  called 

CORIMEL^NID^. 

Pronotum  hexagonal;  margins  of  scutellum  without 
furrows;    tibiae    not    strongly    spinose.     ScutelleriD/E. 

98 


AQUATIC  HEMIPTERA. 


These  are  sometimes  classed  as  a  subfamily  of  Pentatomi- 
das.  Some  species  are  large  and  brightly  colored  but  they 
are  not  usually  common. 

CORIXID^ 

The  Water-boatmen  (most  boatmen  are  that  kind) 
swim  "right  side  up."  Compare  Notonectidce.  They 
are  shghtly  heavier  than  water  and  rest  on  the  bottom  or 
on  aquatic  plants,  but  when  they  come  up  for  air,  the 
surface  tension  is  sufficient  to  hold  them  at  the  top  without 
much  effort  on  their  part.  At  such  times,  they  float  in  a 
horizontal  position,  taking  air  directly  into  the  thoracic 
spiracles  and  renewing  the  supply  of  air  which  is  carried 
by  hairs  when  they  dive.  It  is  said  that  these  insects, 
while  submerged,  but  especially  at  night,  make  a  tolerably 
loud  and  sustained  noise  by  rubbing  their  beak  with  their 
front  legs.  The  eggs  are  usually  fastened  on,  not  in, 
submerged  objects;  the  eggs  of  certain  specie  in  the  lakes 
near  the  City  of  Mexico  are  so  abundant  that  they  are 
gathered  by  the  Mexicans  and  used  for  food.  This  famil}^ 
is  predaceous  and  its  members,  like  their  relatives,  are 
attracted,  in  their  nocturnal  flights,  by  light.  The  princi- 
pal genus  in  our  region  is  Arctocorixa — Corixa  of  most 
publications  (Plate  XXV). 

Belostomid^ 

This  family  contains  the  Giant  Water-bugs;  also  called 
Electric-light  Bugs  because  the  adults  are  frequently 
noticed  flying  about  electric  lights.  Some  of  the  tropical 
species  are  the  largest  of  Hemiptera,  being  four  and  five 
inches  long.  The  broad,  flat  hind  legs  and  the  flat  body, 
with  a  keel  in  the  middle  underneath,  well  fit  them  for 
aquatic  locomotion.  The  sharp-hooked  front  legs  and 
the  short,  powerful  beak  make  their  predatory  habits  not 
to  be  depised  by  even  fair-sized  fish.  They  lurk  on  muddy 
bottoms,  often  slightly  covering  themselves  with  mud  or 
leaves,  ready  to  dart  out  after  the  unwary.  Before  men- 
tioning one  of  the  interesting  habits  of  some  of  them  we 
must,  unfortunately,  note  a  change  in  names:  the  generic 
name,  Belostoma,  which  has  been  used  in  most  publications, 
should    be    Lethocerus,    and    Zaitlia    becomes    Belostoma. 

99 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


In  this  sense,  the  females  of  Belostoma,  and  of  certain 
other  genera,  fasten  their  eggs  onto  the  backs  of  the  males. 
It  is  said  that  the  males  do  not  take  kindly  to  this  procedure 
but  that  they  can  not  help  themselves. 

1.  Hind  tibise  much  broader  than  middle  ones;  front 
coxae  little  longer  than  broad 2. 

Hind  tibiae  little,  if  any,  broader  than  middle  ones; 
front  coxae  at  least  twice  as  long  as  broad.  All  of  our 
species  are  less  than  i  in.  long Belostoma. 

2.  Margins  of  front  femora  with  a  longitudinal  groove 
in  which  the  tibiae  lie  when  folded.  Lethocerus,  of  which 
americanus  is  our  common  species;  it  is  about  2  in.  long. 

Margin  of  front  femora  without  such  groove.  Benacus 
griseus  (Plate  XXV). 

Nepid^ 

The  long  respiratory  tail  of  Water-scorpions  is  not 
fully  developed  until  the  molt  which  gives  them  wings. 
It  is  perfectly  harmless;  all  the  sting  these  creatures  have 
is  at  the  other  end,  their  beak.  We  have  two  genera, 
both  of  which  are  aquatic  and  predaceous:  the  body  of 
Nepa  is  oval,  fiat,  and  thin;  that  of  Ranatra  (Plate  XXV) 
is  linear  and  cylindrical.  They  are  sluggish  creatures, 
crawling  but  not  swimming,  often  remaining  motionless 
for  hours  on  the  muddy,  leaf-covered  bottom  of  their 
favorite  haunts  and  rarely,  if  at  all,  coming  to  lights. 
Their  eggs,  which  are  placed  in  or  on  submerged  objects, 
are  furnished  with  filaments  at  one  end,  seven  in  Nepa 
and  two  in  Ranatra.  The  only  species  of  Nepa  is  apiculata, 
which  is  about  .75  in.  long,  not  counting  filaments.  R. 
americana,  about  1.25  in.  long,  is  our  most  common  species 
of  Ranatra  in  the  East. 

NOTONECTIDiE 

The  Back-swimmers  are  shaped  somewhat  like  an  over- 
turned boat,  but  they  overturn  themselves  when  they  are 
in  the  water.  They  are  lighter  than  water  and  normally 
rest  at  the  surface,  floating  head-down,  with  the  tip  of  the 
abdomen  piercing  the  surface-film,  their  long  hind  legs 
extended  like  sweeps  ready  to  send  them  swiftly  to  safety 

100 


Plate  XXV 


Arcto'corixQ 
intei^rupto 


Ranatro 
Qmericana 


Gelostocoris 
oculatus 


Benocus 
griseus 


Lyqus 
pratensis 


WotonectQ 
undulatQ 


PoecilocQpsus 
lineatus 


Reduvius 
personatus 


Gerris 
remigis 


Arilu5  cristQiu5 


lOI 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


or  food.  They  do  not  breathe  through  their  tail  but  from 
it  the  air  passes  through  hair-covered  channels  to  spiracles 
on  their  thorax.  Small  fish  and  other  aquatic  animals 
are  easy  prey,  and  the  suctorial  beak  will  pierce  even  the 
careless  collector's  fingers.  Doubtless  the  pearly  color 
of  their  backs,  which,  as  they  swim,  is  seen  against  the 
sky,  and  the  dark  of  their  under  (upper)  side  helps  them  to 
approach  their  victims  and  to  avoid  becoming  victims. 
The  adults  fly  well  and  are  frequently  attracted  to  Hghts. 
During  the  winter  they  sometimes  may  be  seen  swimming 
about  in  the  shallow  water  in  which  they  habitually  live, 
even  though  it  be  covered  with  ice.  It  is  said  that  these 
insects,  by  rubbing  their  front  legs  together,  make  a  noise 
like  the  word  "chew,"  twice  repeated.  The  eggs  arc 
placed  in  the  submerged  stems  of  aquatic  plants.  The 
adults  of  Plea  striola  are  only  about  .06  in.  long;  it  is  the 
only  species  of  that  genus.  Our  other  species  are  much 
larger  and,  for  the  most  part,  belong  in  Notonecta  (Plate 
XXV). 

Saldid^ 

This  family  has  been  called  Acanthiid^,  but  a  techni- 
cality rules  out  the  use  of  that  name.  Furthermore,  its 
use  would  be  confusing,  as  the  Saldidae  have  no  intimate 
connections  with  bed-bugs  but  live  on  the  shores  of  lakes 
and  rivers.  Uhler,  one  of  the  master  Hemipterists,  wrote  : 
"In  the  present  family  we  have  types  which  like  Galgulus 
[Gelastocoris],  make  holes  for  themselves,  and  live  for  a 
part  of  the  time  beneath  the  ground.  Like  the  members 
of  that  genus  too,  a  majority  of  them  inhabit  damp  soils, 
and  are  often  found  in  countless  numbers  on  the  salt  or 
brackish  marshes  of  our  sea  coasts.  Their  manner 
strongly  recalls  that  of  the  tiger-beetles  that  inhabit  the 
same  places.  When  approached,  or  in  any  way  disturbed, 
they  leap  from  the  ground,  arise  a  few  feet  into  the  air, 
by  means  of  their  wings,  and  alight  a  short  distance  away, 
taking  care  to  slip  quickl}^  into  the  shade  of  some  protecting 
tuft  of  grass  or  clod,  where  the  soil  agrees  with  the  color 
of  their  bodies."  They  feed  chiefly  upon  the  juices  of 
drowned  insects.  There  are  numerous  species  of  Saldula, 
the  principal  genus  of  our  region.     They  are  rather  soft  in 

102 


WATER-STRIDERS. 


texture,  with  small  head  and  prominent  eyes.  Their 
size  is  never  large  and  their  color  is  black,  sometimes 
marked  with  white  or  yellow. 

Veliid.e 

These  have  been  called  Broad-shouldered  Water-striders 
(see  Gerridse).  Rhagovelia  obesa  is  very  common  in  some 
localities,  preferring  swift  streams.  It  is  black,  about  an 
eighth  of  an  inch  long,  and  usually  wingless.  Rhagovelia 
plumbea  lives  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  near  the  shores. 
Members  of  this  family  are  more  given  to  going  into  the 
water  than  are  their  relatives  and  they  may  sometimes  be 
seen  running,  back  downwards,  on  the  under  side  of  the 
surface  film. 

Gerrid^e 

The  family  name  of  this  group  of  Water-striders  or 
Pond-skaters  has  usually  been  given  as  Hydrobatidae. 
Unfortunately  there  have  been  considerable  changes  in  the 
taxonomy  of  Kemiptera,  as  you  will  notice,  and  no  agree- 
ment has  yet  been  reached.  One  system  is  to  make  the 
Veliidas,  Mesoveliidas,  and  Hydrometridse  subfamilies 
of  Gerridae.  Cf  Gerridas,  in  the  narrow  sense,  and  now 
put  in  the  genus  Gerris,  one  common  species  {marginatus) 
has  often  been  listed  in  the  genus  Limnotrechus,  and 
another  {remigis,  Plate  XXV),  in  Hygrotreclius.  These 
two  species  and  their  less  common  relatives  may  be  seen 
skating  about  on  the  surface  of  ponds  or  of  the  less  rapid 
parts  of  streams,  often  j-umping  up  and  landing  again 
without  breaking  the  surface  film.  They  go  about  on  the 
two  hinder  pairs  of  legs,  pushing  with  the  m^iddle  pair, 
steering  with  the  last,  and  holding  the  front  pair  up  so  as 
to  be  ready  to  grasp  their  food,  which  consists  of  either 
living  or  dead  insects  and  the  like.  Why  are  they  able  to 
run  on  the  surface  of  water?  Because  their  hairy  legs 
are  not  wetted  and  so,  with  the  slight  pressure  of  the 
insect's  little  weight,  they  dimple  but  do  not  break  the 
surface  film.  A  greased  needle  will  float  for  the  same 
reason.  Both  winged  and  wingless  adults  of  the  same 
species  occur.  Eggs  are  laid  at  or  just  beneath  the 
siurface  of  the  water  on  almost  any  solid  object.     Adults 

103 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


occasionally  go  under  water;  they  hibernate  and  some- 
times come  out  in  warm  winter  days  to  stretch  their  legs. 
If  you  desire  to  bring  home  alive  for  your  aquarium 
species  of  this  and  related  families,  use  for  the  purpose  a 
dry  box  or  one  in  which  there  is  some  damp  moss;  they 
frequently  drown  if  carried  in  a  pail  containing  water. 
The  following  key  includes  the  genera  most  often  noticed 
in  our  territory. 

1.  Body  oval,  less  than  3  times  as  long  as  broad; 
pronotum  not  longer  than  broad 2. 

Body  elongate,  more  than  4  times  as  long  as  broad; 
pronotum  much  longer  than  broad.     Gerris 3. 

2.  Second  segment  of  antennae  longer  than  either  third 
or    fourth    segment Metrohates    hesperius. 

Second  segment  of  antennae  shorter  than  either  third 
or    fourth    segment Trepohates    pictus. 

3.  Antennae  longer  than  head  and  pronotum  together; 
hind  tibiae  and  tarsi,  together,  much  longer  than  middle 
tibiae.     Subgenus  Limnoporus,  species  rufoscutellatus. 

Antennae  shorter  than  head  and  pronotum  together; 
hind  tibiae  and  tarsi,  together,  but  little  longer  than  middle 
tibiae 4. 

4.  First  segment  of  antennae  nearly  the  same  length  as 
fourth.  Subgenus  Gerris,  of  which  marginaius  is  a  common 
species. 

First  segment  of  antennas  considerably  longer  than 
fourth.  Subgenus  Aquarius,  of  which  remigis  is  our 
common  species. 

Hydrometrid^ 

This  family  has  also  been  called  Limnobatidae  and  the 
type,  as  well  as  our  only,  genus  is  then  called  Limnobates 
instead  of  Hydrometra  (see  also  Gerridae).  The  common 
name  is  Marsh-treaders.  Hydrometra  martini  (also  called 
lineata)  is  not  rare  but  is  not  often  seen.  It  is  not  quite 
.5  in.  long,  very  thin,  and  walks  very  deliberately  over  the 
water  and  projecting  plants.  Quoting  Uhler  again, 
"They  delight  to  remain  at  rest,  with  perhaps  a  single  claw 
hooked  to  some  projecting  object.  When  disturbed  they 
move  very  slowly,  and  seem  disposed  to  save  themselves 

104 


SOME  INJURIOUS  BUGS. 


rather  by  concealment  among  rubbish  and  tangled  growths 
than  by  active  movements.  The  young  forms  are  so 
very  slender  that  they  can  only  be  detected  with  great 
difficulty  in  the  places  to  which  they  resort." 

MlRID^ 

These  are  what  have  generally  been  called  Capsidae. 
It  is  one  of  the  largest  families  of  true  bugs  and  a  very 
bewildering  one  to  the  students  who  would  attempt  to 
classify  the  species.  ]\Iost  of  them  are  leaf -feeders  but 
some  are  predaceous.  The  eggs  of  many,  at  least,  have  two 
filaments  at  one  end,  which  project  from  the  plant-stems 
in  which  they  are  laid. 

The  ground-color  of  the  very  common 
Lygus  ^  Tarnished  Plant-bug  (Plate  XXV),  ranges 

from  dull  brown  to  yellowish-brown,  and 
its  markings  are  also  variable.  Typically,  the  head 
is  yellowish  with  three  narrow-reddish  stripes  and  the 
following  markings  are  yellowish:  margin  of  pronotum, 
several  longitudinal  lines  on  it,  a  V  on  the  scutellum,  the 
legs,  and  a  spot  at  the  apex  of  the  thickened  part  of  each 
front  wing.  This  insect  is  very  destructive  of  a  large 
range  of  vegetation  from  strawberries  to  fruit-trees. 
Adults  hibernate  in  rubbish  and  appear  in  early  spring. 
The  punctures,  made  for  the  purpose  of  sucking  juices, 
seem  to  have  a  poisonous  effect  on  buds  and  leaves.  Pro- 
bably the  eggs  are  laid  in  plant-tissues. 

The  Four-lined  Leaf-bug  (Plate  XXV)  is 
H^ealur^^''^  dark  green  (yellow  after  death),  with  the 
head,  forepart  of  the  pronotum,  and  under- 
side of  body,  orange-red.  There  are  four,  more  or  less 
continuous,  black,  longitudinal  lines  on  the  pronotum 
and  front  wings.  While  particularly  injurious  to  currants 
and  the  like,  it  attacks  many  different  plants.  "The 
presence  of  the  pest  is  indicated  by  the  appearance  of  the 
peculiar  brown  depressed  spots  on  the  tender  terminal 
leaves  in  early  summer.  As  the  attack  continues,  whole 
leaves  turn  brown,  curl  up,  become  brittle,  and  are  torn 

105 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


or  broken  by  the  wind.  The  young  shoot  is  checked  and 
frequently  droops  and  dies.  The  buds  of  dahhas  and 
roses  are  often  blasted."  The  vermilion  nymphs  hatch 
from  overwintered  eggs  placed  in  slits,  cut  lengthwise 
into  the  stems  of  the  plants,  each  containing  six  or  more 
eggs.  The  adult  stage  is  reached  about  the  middle  of 
June. 

Tlaltictis  uhleri  is  one  of  the  smallest  species  of  the 
family;  black  with  yellow  on  legs,  antennas,  and,  as  scale- 
like tufts,  on  the  front  wings.  They  hop  like  flea-beetles 
and  feed  on  a  variety  of  garden-plants.  Some  individuals 
are  short- winged. 

Some  Mirids  slightly  resemble  ants  in  shape  and  have 
yellow  spots  so  placed  as  to  increase  the  resemblance  by 
giving  them  the  appearance  of  having  narrow  waists,  but 
it  is  difiicult  to  prove  that  this  resemblance  is  of  any  use 
to  them. 

ClMICID^ 

Most  of  us  have  had  experience  with  one  member  of  this 
family,  although  many  do  not  like  to  talk  about  it.  Per- 
haps no  other  insect  has  been  given  so  many  euphemistic 
names,  but  the  one  which  is  most  generally  understood  is 
plain  Bed-bug.  In  fact,  that  is  a  translation  of  (or,  is  it 
the  other  way  around?)  its  scientific  name,  lectularius.  It 
belongs  to  the  genus  Cimex,  which  has  also,  improperly, 
been  called  Acanthus.  A  description  of  its  appearance 
and  smell  is  unnecessary,  especially  in  a  Field  Book;  it  is 
7iever  found  afield,  under  bark  and  the  like;  those  are  quite 
different  creatures.  It  is  also  confused  with  the  creature 
which  closely  resembles  it  and  is  often  found  in  the  nests 
of  swallows;  that  is  CEciacus  vicarius  (  =  hirundinis)  and 
rarely  bothers  man.  The  number  of  generations  a  year 
of  lectularis  depends  on  the  temperature  and  food-supply; 
there  are,  normally,  onl}'-  one  or  two  and  it  is  not  true  that 
"they  become  grand-fathers  in  a  night."  Kerosene  in  all 
the  bed-room  cracks  and  crannies  will  do  the  trick  but, 
especially  in  the  spring,  the  treatment  should  be  repeated 
in  order  to  kill  those  which  were  unhatched  at  the  time  of 
the  first  application  and  may  have  been  protected  by  the 
egg-shell. 

io6 


KISSING  BUGS. 


Reduviid.« 


Some  of  the  Assassin -bugs  are  rather  striking  creatures; 
nearly  all  are  fairly  large  and  some  are  gayly  colored. 
They  are  predaceous,  feeding  chiefly  on  the  juices  of  other 
insects. 

As    the    "Kissing    Bug"    this    creature 

Reduvius  (pj^^g  XXV)   received  considerable  news- 

personatus 

paper  space  some  years  ago.     Another,  and 

better,  common  name  is  IMasked  Bed-bug  Hunter.  It 
often  enters  houses  where  it  and  its  young  feed  on  bed-bugs. 
Especially  the  young  have  many  sticky  hairs  to  which 
dust  and  other  small  particles  adhere,  making  the  mask. 
Many  Reduviids  have  these  sticky  hairs  and  should  not 
be  put  in  a  collecting  bottle  together  with  delicate  insects. 
If  personatus  bites  humans,  as  it  rarely  does,  a  very  painful 
wound  is  caused,  so  that  the  newspaper  stories  have  some 
basis  in  fact. 

A  southern  species  of  similar  habits,  but  much  more 
given  to  sucking  huma^  blood,  is  Triatoma  (=  Conor], inus) 
sanguisuga.  In  the  South,  it  is  called  the  Big  Bed-bug. 
It  is  about  an  inch  long;  black,  marked  with  red  on  the 
sides  of  the  prothorax,  at  the  base  of  the  apex  of  the  front 
wings,  and  at  the  sides  of  the  abdomen;  the  head  is  long, 
narrow,  cylindrical,  and  thickest  behind  the  eyes.  It  is 
said  that  the  effect  of  its  bite  may  last  for  nearly  a  year, 
and  it  is  probable  that  attacks  which  are  attributed  to 
spiders  are  really  the  work  of  this  insect.  Out-of-doors,  it 
feeds  on  insects,  including  grasshoppers  and  potato  beetles. 

Another  species  which  has  been  accused  of  being  a 
kissing-bug  is  Melanolestes  picipes.  It  is  black;  about 
.6  in.  long;  the  head  well  drawn  out  in  front  of  the  eyes, 
behind  which  is  a  tran verse,  impressed  line;  the  prothorax 
is  more  or  less  bell-shaped  and  divided  into  two  lobes; 
the  legs  are  short,  the  femora  stout,  and  each  tibia  has  a 
large  pad  at  its  apex.  In  nature  it  is  often  found  hiding 
under  stones  and  boards. 

A-hinmp.rus  crassipes  is  about  .6  in.  long;  rather  broad; 
black,   the  pronotum,  scutellum,  and  abdomen  margined 

107 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


with  red.  It  is  usually  found  on  pine  trees,  feeding  on 
plant-lice  and  young  caterpillars,  often  holding  them 
down  with  the  front  feet  as  a  dog  does  his  bone. 

Pselliopus  {  =  Milyas)  cinctus  is  about  .5  in.  long;  waxy- 
yellow  with  numerous,  conspicuous,  black  rings  on  its 
legs.  Like  many  other  Reduviids,  its  eggs  are  glued  to 
the  bark  of  trees  and  covered  with  a  water-proof 
substance. 

Arilus  cristatus  (Plate  XXV)  varies  from  less  than  an 
inch  to  1.5  in.  in  length;  the  middle  of  the  pronotum  has  a 
longitudinal  elevation  something  like  a  chicken's  comb; 
general  color  grayish  black,  slightly  bronzed.  It  is  called 
the  Wheel-bug.  The  nymphs  are  red,  with  black  marks. 
They  are  our  friends,  if  we  do  not  handle  them  carelessty, 
as  they  use  their  beaks  with  good  effect  on  many  kinds  of 
caterpillars  and  other  injurious  insects. 

Sinea  diadema  is  about  .5  in.  long;  brownish;  front 
femora,  head,  and  pronotum  largely  covered  with  short 
spines.  It  is  often  found  on  the  flowers,  such  as  goldenrod ; 
although  it  eats  injurious  caterpillars,  it  does  not  hesitate 
to  attack  stinging  insects  and  so  is  iiot  especially  welcome 
near  bee-hives. 

Emesid^e 

These  Thread-legged  (not  all  are)  Bugs  should  probably 
be  placed  as  a  subfamily  of  Reduviidae.  The  following 
are  our  more  common  forms. 

1.  Front  tibis  and  tarsi,  together,  not  shorter  than  the 
front  femora ■ 2. 

These,  together,  shorter  than  the  front  femora 3. 

2.  Eyes  large,  very  prominent,  when  seen  from  the  side 
occupying  the  whole  side  of  the  head.  .  .  .Luteva  Carolina. 

Eyes  small,  little  prominent,  when  seen  from  the  side 
occupying  not  more  than  half  the  side  of  the  head .  .  .  Ploi- 
ariola,  of  which   errabunda  is  the  common  species. 

3.  Front   tarsi    i-clawed Barce. 

Front    tarsi    2-clawed.      Usually    Emesa    hrevipennis 

(Plate  XXVI).  The  front  legs  are  formed  for  grasping, 
much  like  those  of  the  Praying  Mantis,  while  the  rest  of  the 

108 


Plate  XXVI 


PhymQlQ  erosQ 


CorijthucQ 
orcuQta 


^imopterus  LqQfeu^ 


MyodochQ 
serripes 


Anoso 
tristis 


Podisus 
iveniris 


MurqantiQ^       Euschistus 
histrionicQ      vorioloriys 


MormideQ 
luQens 


lOg 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS, 


insect  suggests  a  delicate  Walking  Stick.  It  is  called 
longipes  in  many  publications.  When  full  grown,  it  is 
usually  at  least  1.3  in.  long,  with  wings  only  about  a  fourth 
as  long  as  the  legs.  The  ground-color  is  brownish,  with 
the  upper  surface  of  the  abdomen  reddish  and  a  few  pale 
spots  on  each  side  of  the  head;  the  front  legs  more  or  less 
T^anded.     It  is  said  to  feed  chiefly  on  spiders. 

Phymatid^ 

The  two  genera  may  be  separated  as  follows :  Scutellum 
short,  head  with  a  bifid  prolongation  above  the  insertion 
of  the  antenna,  Phymata;  and  scutellum  very  long,  extend- 
ing to  the  tip  of  the  abdomen,  head  without  such  pro- 
longation, Macrocephalus.  We  have  but  few  species  of 
Ambush  Bugs.  Phymata  erosa  (Plate  XXVI)  is  the  one 
most  likely  to  be  collected.  Like  most  of  the  others,  it 
conceals  itself  in  flowers,  where  it  captures  various  insects, 
including  large  butterflies  and  even  bees.  The  front  legs 
are  short  but  very  powerful,  and  apparently  its  beak  is 
quite  deadly.  The  generic  name  means  "tumor"  and  was 
probably  suggested  by  the  projections  from  the  body. 
The  somewhat  knobbed  antennas  fit  in  grooves  under  the 
sides  of  the  pronotum.  This  species  is  greenish-yellow, 
marked  with  a  broad  black  band  across  the  expanded 
part  of  the  abdomen.  The  female  is  about  .4  in  long; 
the  male  somewhat  less. 

TiNGIDIDiE 

The  adult  Lace-bugs  are  small,  delicate  and,  imder  a 
lens,  beautiful  insects;  in  most  of  the  species  the  front 
wings  and  other  parts,  including  expansions  of  the  pro- 
thorax,  are  like  fine  lace.  Furthermore,  they  lack  the 
impleasant  odors  of  many  Hemiptera.  They  are  usually 
found  on  the  under  sides  of  leaves.  The  eggs  are  often 
placed  near  the  leaf-veins.  Some  species,  at  least,  hiber- 
nate as  adults.  Plate  XXVI  shows  Corythuca  arcuata, 
which  is  common  on  oaks.  Piesma  cinerea  is  our  only 
species  of  the  subfamdly  Piesminag;  they  have  ocelU  (other 
Tingidids  do  not)  and  the  membrane  has  no  net- work. 

no 


THE  CHINCH-BUG. 


PYRRHOCORIDiE 


These  are  called  Red-bugs  but  they  are  not  the  creatures 
(mites)  which  get  in  human  skin  and  cause  red  sores. 
Our  commonest  species  is  Euryopthalmus  (  =  Largus) 
succinctus.  It  is  about  .5  in.  long  and  rather  stout; 
brownish  black  above,  with  red  on  the  margins  of  the 
prothorax,  outer  margin  of  front  wings,  trochanters,  and 
bases  of  femora;  a  fine  bluish  pubescence  underneath. 
The  young  are  brilliant  steel-blue,  with  reddish  legs,  and  a 
bright  red  spot  at  the  base  of  the  abdomen.  Some  authori- 
ties say  it  is  a  plant-feeder  and  others  that  it  feeds  mainly  on 
insects  and  was  "found  to  be  very  useful  in  California 
by  eating  the  destructive  cottony  cushion  scale,  at  one 
time  threatening  to  destroy  entirely  the  orange  groves  of 
that  state."  Perhaps  it  does  both.  The  Cotton-stainer 
of  the  South  is  Dysdercus  suturellus. 

luYGMlDJE 

About  200  species  have  been  listed  from  America,  north 
of  Mexico.     The  family  has  also  been  called  Myodochidae. 

Most  of  us  have  heard  of  the  Chinch- 
Blissus  ^      ^p^^^g  XXVI),  and  all  of  us  have  helped 

leucopterus  .        .         _,  ^ 

pay   for   it.     These    pests    have   cost   the 

United  States  about  half  a  billion  dollars.  The  worst 
injury  has  been  to  small  grains  and  corn  in  the  Mississippi 
Valley  but  frequent  injury  is  done  in  the  East,  especially 
to  timothy  meadows  which  have  stood  for  several  years. 
It  is  black  and  white  except  for  the  red  legs  and  bases  of 
the  antenns.  Most  of  the  adults  occurring  between  the 
Rockies  and  the  Alleghanies  have  normally  long  wings; 
in  the  South,  East,  and  along  the  Lakes  to  northern 
Illinois,  short-winged  individuals  are  usually  the  more 
common.  The  young  are  yellowish  or  bright  red,  marked 
with  brownish.  Adults  hibernate  in  clumps  of  grass  or 
under  rubbish.  In  early  spring  the  females  lay  their 
yellowish-white  eggs  (up  to  500  each)  on  the  roots  or  at 
the  bases  of  stalks,  usually  of  grasses  and  grain.  Even 
the  long-winged  adults  do  not  fly  much  but  usually  walk 
from  field  to  field.      The  first  annual  generation  matures 

III 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


in  early  summer,  and  eggs  are  then  laid  on  the  unfolding 
leaves  of  com  if  these  are  available.  This  brood  matures 
in  August  and  September. 

Oncopeltus  fasciatus  is  about  .6  in.  long;  red  and  black, 
the  black  above  being  a  spot  covering  most  of  the  pronotum 
and  scutellum,  a  broad  band  across  the  middle  of  the 
closed  wings,  and  the  membranes.  LygcBus  kalmii 
(Plate  XXVI) — and  other  species — has  the  same  colors 
but  the  black  on  the  pronotum  is  at  the  front,  the  wings 
next  to  the  scutellum  are  black,  and  the  middle  band  does 
not  go  all  the  way  across;  it  is  about  .5  in.  long, 

Myodochus  serripes  (Plate  XXVI)  "is  rendered  very 
comical  by  the  swinging  of  the  long  antennae  with  their 
thickened  apical  joint,  while  running  over  the  ground 
among  stones  and  rubbish  of  its  favorite  haunts.  Alead- 
ows  and  rich  soils  in  thin  woods  furnish  it  with  needed 
shelter,  and  there  it  may  be  found  throughout  the  entire 
year,  half  concealed  by  bits  of  twigs  and  dead  leaves,  or 
stowed  away  beneath  the  loose  fragments  of  rock  which  lie 
scattered  over  the  ground"  (Uhler).  The  long,  slender 
neck  is  quite  distinctive. 

Neidid^ 

The  Stilt-bug  family  has  been  called  Berytidse  and  has 
also  been  classed  as  a  subfamily  of  the  Coreidae  but  it  is 
probably  more  closely  related  to  the  Lygaeidae.  There 
are  but  few  species,  Jalysus  spinosus  being  the  most 
common.  It  is  about  .3  in.  long,  with  a  very  slender, 
pale  body,  and  long,  slender  legs.  It  is  rather  sluggish 
and  usually  found  in  the  undergrowth  of  oak  woods.  At 
first  sight  it  suggests  a  tawny  crane-fly. 

Aradid^ 

These  Flat-bugs  are  responsible  for  the  notion  that 
bed-bugs  live  also  under  bark  and  that  they  then  may 
have  wings.  They  are  dark  brown  or  black  and  the 
reddish,  wingless  young  do  look  like  bed-bugs.  They 
probably  feed  on  fungus.  A  good  way  to  collect  them  is 
to  knock  dead  sticks  together  over  a  white  sheet.  This 
jars  off  the  insects  and  they  can  be  seen  more  readily. 

112 


THE  SQUASH.BUQ. 


COREID^ 


The  Squash-bug  family  is  an  extensive  one.  Most  of 
the  species  have  an  unpleasant  odor,  and  there  is  a  tendency 
to  have  the  edges  of  the  abdomen  raised  so  that  the  wings 
lie  in  a  depression. 

The  Squash-bug  (Plate  XXVI)  is  known 
°*f*  to   most    gardeners  who  have  grown   any 

of  the  squash  family.  Its  chief  claim  to 
scientific  fame  is  that  it  was  used  prominently  in  the 
development  of  our  present  knowledge  concerning  the 
germinal  relations  of  sex.  The  pronotum  and  the  thick- 
ened parts  of  the  front  wings  are  speckled  brown,  the  side- 
margins  of  the  pronotum  are  yellowish;  the  hind  femora 
do  not  bear  a  row  of  spines.  Adults  spend  the  winter, 
as  well  as  the  summer  nights,  under  rubbish.  The  oval, 
pale-yellow  to  dark  eggs  are  laid  in  irregular  clusters,  usually 
on  the  under  side  of  leaves.  The  young  are  rather  gregari- 
ous and  gay  with  their  crimson  legs,  head,  and  front  part  of 
thorax,  but  these  change  to  black  as  they  grow.  In  the 
North  the  adult  stage  is  reached  about  August. 

The  following  rough  notes  may  be  helpful  in  the  North- 
east. A  brownish  species  about  .4  in.  long,  without  a 
row  of  spines  on  the  hind  femora,  but  with  a  leaf-like 
expansion  on  each  antenna,  is  probably  Chariesterus 
antennator.  Species  of  the  largely  predaceous  Alydus 
are  usually  fully  .5  in.  long,  slender  and  have  a  row  of 
spines  on  the  hind  femora.  The  following  are  usually 
more  than  .6  in.  long  and  have  spines  on  the  hind  femora: 
Archimerus  and  Euthochtha  galeator  have  more  or  less 
cylindrical  hind  tibi^;  Acanthocephala  and  Leptoglossus 
have  leaf -like  expansions  of  the  hind  tibiae. 

Pentatomid^ 

The  name  of  Stink-bugs  has  been  fastened  on  this  family, 
possibly  because  some  of  the  species  are  responsible  for 
giving  raspberries  a  bad,  smelly  taste  once  in  awhile. 
Another  name  is  Shield-bugs,  on  account  of  the  large 
scutellum.  Psyche,  Vol.  XXII,  contains  a  synopsis  of  the 
family  with  keys  to  the  New  England  species  by  Parshley. 
8  113 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


See  the  key  (p.  98)  for  Scutellerinas  (Shield-bugs), 
Thyreocorinae  (Negro-bugs),  and  Cydninas  (Burro wing- 
bugs). 

The  Asopinse  have  the  first  joint  of  the  beak  largely 
free  and  relatively  short  and  thick;  there  is  a  spine  on  the 
basal  abdominal  segment.  A  common  genus  is  Podisus 
(Plate  XXVI),  in  which  the  pronotum  is  sometimes 
extended  into  a  sharp  spine  on  each  side. 

The  northern  subfamily,  Acanthosomin^e,  have  but 
two  joints  in  each  tarsus;  the  following  subfamilies  have 
three  tarsal  joints. 

The  Graphosominse  have  a  broad  scutellum,  which  is 
blunt  at  the  apex  and  extending  back  to  near  the  tip  of  the 
abdomen.  Podops  is  our  only  genus,  and  cinctipes  (over 
.25  in.  long,  2nd  to  4th  antennal  joints  darker)  is  our 
common  species. 

The  principal  family,  Pentatominse,  has  the  scutellum 
smaller  and  more  or  less  narrowed  apically.  The  following 
belong  here. 

Brochymena  {quadripustulata  is  a  common  species  with 
us)  has  a  shallow  groove  on  the  underside  of  the  abdomen 
and  the  beak  extends  back  of  the  posterior  coxae.  They  are 
broad,  rough,  brown  species,  .5  in.  long  and  live  on  trees. 
They  look  like  bits  of  bark  and  are  best  obtained  by  beating. 

A  medium-sized  brown  species  with  an  angle  on  each  side 
of  the  pronotum,  behind,  is  usually  a  Euschistus  (Plate 
XXVI).  The  first  segment  of  the  rostrum  is  not  much 
thicker  than  the  second,  and  all  the  tibiae  are  grooved. 
Chlorochroa  uhleri  is  a  bright  green  bug,  about  .5  in.  long, 
with  yellow  side-margins  and  a  yellow  tip  to  the  scutellum. 
Bright  green  bugs  larger  than  this  are  usually  Acrosternum. 
Mormidea  lugens  is  shown  on  Plate  XXVI. 

The  popular  interest  in  Murgantia  histrionica  (Plate 
XXVI)  is  indicated  by  its  long  list  of  names,  among  which 
are  Harlequin  Cabbage-bug,  Calico-back,  Terrapin- 
bug,  and  Fire-bug.  It  is  shining  black  or  deep  blue, 
profusely  marked  with  red.  It  feeds  on  cabbage  and 
related  plants,  wild  and  cultivated.  The  white  eggs, 
which  are  placed  in  a  double  row,  look  like  small  barrels 
because  of  their  two  black  bands  and  a  white  spot.  Adults 
hibernate. 

114 


BUTTERFLIES  AND  MOTHS. 


LEPIDOPTERA 


JMost  students  of  insects  start  by  collecting  Butterflies 
and  Moths  ajnd  some  people  act  as  though  adult  Lepidop- 
tera  are  the  only  "  bugs  "  worth  looking  at.  It  is  true  that 
most  butterflies  and  many  moths  are  among  the  beautiful 
things  of  this  earth,  when  they  are  mature,  but  still 

"And  what's  a  butterfly?     At  best, 
He's  but  a  caterpillar,  drest." 

and,  until  you  get  the  right  viewpoint,  caterpillars  are  not 
so  pretty.  Personally,  I  think  the  craze  for  Lepidoptera 
is  overdone.  Compared  with  many  other  insects,  they 
are  uninteresting ;  the  adults  are  not  given  to  doing  things 
much  more  exciting  than  flitting  about,  mating,  and  laying 
eggs  in  a  relatively  common-place  way.  However,  it  is 
only  in  comparison  with  some  of  the  other  insects  that 
they  are  uninteresting — 

"How  happy  could  I  be  with  either, 
Were  t'other  dear  charmer  away!" 

and,  as  this  little  book  aims  to  obey  vox  populi,  I  have 
given  Lepidoptera  what  seems  to  me  relatively  large — 
but  all  too  small — consideration.  Unless  otherwise  stated, 
the  descriptions  of  larvae  refer  to  full-grown  specimens, 
younger  ones  differ  somewhat;  and  "food  "  means  the  food 
of  larvae. 

The  scientific  name  of  this  Order  means  "  scaly- winged  " 
and  refers  to  the  fact  that  the  hairs  which  cover  the  wings 
are  flattened  or  scale-like.  It  is  these  scales  which  give 
color  to  the  wing,  as  may  be  seen  in  Plate  I  wliich  shows 
the  wings  of  one  side  denuded.  We  may  accept  two  sub- 
orders: Rhopalocera  and  Heterocera.  The  "cera"  in 
these  names  means  "horn"  and  refers  to  the  antennae; 
the  "Rhopalo"  means  "club,"  and  the  "Hetero"  means 
"otherwise, "  in  the  same  sense  as  when  we  say  "  Orthodoxy 
is  my  doxy  and  heterodoxy  is  another  kind  of  doxy." 
Butterflies  have  club-shaped  antennae,  a  knob  at  the 
extreme  end,  and  belong  to  the  Rhopalocera.  Moths 
are  Heterocera:  some  of  them,  especially  the  males,  having 
feathered   antennae;    some    having    thread-like   antennas; 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


some  having  a  swelling  in  their  antennae  near,  but  not  at, 
the  end;  while  a  few  rare  tropical  species  have  orthodox 
butterfly  clubs.  The  pupae  of  butterflies  are  not  protected 
by  cocoons  as  are  those  of  some  moths  and  are  usually 
called  "chrysalids"  (singular:  "chrysalis").  Butterflies, 
as  a  rule,  fly  only  by  day  when  but  few  moths  are  stirring. 
Butterflies  usually  hold  their  wings  erect,  when  at  rest, 
while  moths  hold  them  flat  or  fold  them  against  the  body. 

RHOPALOCERA 

Butterflies  of  the  United  States  are  grouped  in  five 
families:  Nymphalidae,  Erycinidae  (p.  130),  Lycaenidae 
(p.  131),  Papilionidse  (p.  134),  and  Hesperiidae  (p.  142). 

Nymphalid^ 

The  adults  of  both  sexes  in  the  Brush-footed  Butterflies 
have  the  front  pair  of  legs  so  small  as  to  be  useless  for 
walking  and  often  quite  inconspicuous.  The  chrysalids 
hang  head-down  with  the  tail  fastened  in  a  pad  of  silk. 

The    Monarch    (Plate    XXVII)    is    the 
Anosia  species  which  gathers  in  large  flocks  at  the 

p  exippu  ^^^  ^^  summer  and   together  they  move 

south,  coming  back  in  the  spring  as  stragglers.  The  male 
has  a  small  black  patch  on  one  of  the  veins  on  the  upper 
side  of  each  hind  wing;  this  is  a  pocket  containing  scent- 
scales,  a  sachet  bag.  The  adult  is  "mimiced"  by  Basil- 
archia  archippus.  The  easily  recognized  larva  feeds  on 
milkweeds,  fearless  of  birds  because  of  its  acrid  taste. 
The  pupa  in  its  "green  house  with  golden  nails"  is  to  be 
found  hanging  on  the  same  plants  or  on  some  near  shelter. 
This  strong  flier  is  rapidly  becoming  world-wide  in  dis- 
tribution. Some  authors  use  Danais  for  the  generic 
name  and  a  formerly  used  name  for  the  species,  archippus, 
is  apt  to  be  confused  with  the  specific  name  of  the  mimic. 
Anosia  herenice  (The  Queen),  somewhat  like  plexippus 
but  with  the  ground-color  a  rich  brown,  occurs  in  the 
Southwest  and  southward. 

The  Anosias  belong  to  the  subfamily  Euploeinas.  In 
the  Gulf  States  there  is  a  narrow-winged  species   (The 

116 


Plate  XXVII 


Ano^iG    plexippus 


orthemib 


orchippus  ^ 


THE  FRITILLARIES. 


Zebra,  Heliconius  charithonius),  brownish-black  striped 
with  yellow,  belonging  to  the  subfamily  Heliconiinae. 
This  interesting  group  abounds  in  the  American  tropics; 
its  members  are  supposed  to  be  very  distasteful  to  in- 
sectivorous vertebrates,  and  therefore  to  be  models  for 
numerous  mimics. 

The  following  (to  p.  127)  belong  to  the  subfamily  Nym- 
phalinae. 

Dione  vanillcB  (Gulf  Fritillary)  comes  as  far  north  as 
Virginia;  its  wing  expanse  is  about  tliree  inches;  reddish 
brown  above  with  black  spots,  of  which  a  row  along  the 
margin  of  each  hind  wing  are  circles  enclosing  brown, 
and  three  near  the  middle  of  the  front  margin  of  the  front 
wing  are  circular,  each  enclosing  a  white  dot;  below  it  is 
gloriously  spangled  with  silver. 

The  upper  side  of  the  Variegated  Fritillary 
Euptoieta  jg  ^-^^^^  ^^  p^^^^  XXVIII;  the  under  side 

Claudia 

IS  not  silver-spotted.     The  larv^ae  feed  on 

pansies,  violets,  mandrake,  passion-flower,  Portulacca, 
and  other  things.  The  chrysalis  is  white  and  black,  with 
s''ightly  gilded  tubercles. 

The     Regal    Fritillary    usually     prefers 
Argynnis  swampy  meadows.     The  male  differs  from 

the  female  (Plate  XXVIII)  in  having  the 
submarginal  row  of  spots  orange,  instead  of  cream,  and  the 
black  margin  of  the  front  wings  less  pronounced.  Eggs 
are  laid  in  the  fall  and  the  young  larvae  live  over  winter. 
They  feed  on  violets;  are  black  and  yellowish  red;  and  have 
two  rows  of  yellowish,  black-tipped  spines  on  the  back, 
and  black  spines  with  orange  bases  on  the  sides.  The 
chrysalis  is  brown,  variously  marked. 

Note  (Plate  XXVIII)  the  broad  yellow- 

P7°*^  ish  band  near  the  edge  of  the  under  side  of 

cybele  ,  .  . 

the    hind    wings    of    the    Great    Spangled 

Fritillary.     The  larvae  feed  on  violets  and  hibernate  while 

still  young,   frequently  having  eaten  nothing  but  their 

egg  shells.     When  full  grown,  they  are  a  rather  velvety 

black  with  black,  sometimes  orange-based,  spines.     The 

chrysalis  is  a  mottled  dark  brown. 

117 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Note  (Plate  XXVIII)  the  absence  of  a 

Argynnis  broad  yellowish  submarginal  band  on  under- 

aphrodite  ".  . 

side  of  hind  wing,  but  usually  there  is  a 

narrow  one  and  it  is  often  difficult  to  tell  aphrodite  from 

cyhele;  they  may  hybridize.     The  life  history,  immature 

stages,  and  range,  much  like  cyhele. 


The  Moiintain  Silver-spot  is  much  like 
Argymus  ^^^  preceding    species   but   is    smaller,  and 

darker  at  the  base  of  the  wings  both  above 
and  below.  On  the  upper  side  there  usually  is  present 
a  narrow  black  border  to  all  the  wings  and  on  the  hind 
pair  the  black  spots  in  the  middle  are  connected  to  form  a 
very  narrow  irregular  band.  Below,  the  submarginal 
band  of  yellow  on  the  hind  wings  is  paler.  The  males  have 
a  decided  odor  of  sandal-wood.  In  early  stages  and  life 
history  it  is  similar  to  aphrodite  but  it  is  more  confined 
to  mountainous  regions  especially  in  the  Southeast. 

There  are  many  other  species  of  this  genus  in  the  West, 
all  rather  difficult  to  identify  correctly;  and  Brenthis  (q.  v.) 
is  often  united  with  it.  A.  diana  of  the  Southeast  is 
interesting  because  the  male  has  the  outer  third  of  the 
upper  side  of  the  wings  orange  while  the  female  is  black  with 
blue  spots.  As  a  rule,  larvae  of  this  genus  have  the  front 
spines  the  longest;  they  feed  chiefly  at  night.  The  chrysa- 
lids  have  a  forked  head. 

Although  the  upper  side  of  the  Silver-bor- 
Brenthis  dered  Fritillary  is  tawny  with  black  mark- 

ings and  resembles  B.  bellona,  the  species 
are  easily  distinguished  by  the  fact  that  myrina  is  rich  in 
silver  spots  on  the  under  side  of  the  wings  (Plate  XXIX). 
Its  larvae  feed  on  violets,  and  after  hibernating  get  to  be 
about  an  inch  long ;  they  are  dark  olive  brown  with  Hghtcr 
markings  and  are  covered  with  fleshy  spines.  Chrysalis: 
dark  with  darker  spots  and  somewhat  curved  forward.    . 

See  Plate  XXIX  and  the  description  of 
Brenthis  myrina.     The    Meadow    Fritillary   has   no 

silver  imdemeath.  Its  life-history  is  much 
like  that  of  myrina. 

The  chrysalids  of  Brenthis  have  tvso  rows  of  conical 

Ii8 


EuploielQ  cloucliQ 


Arqynnis    aphrodite 


A  r  q  Lj  n  n  1 5   1  d  q  I  i  q 


THE  CRESCENTS. 


tubercles  on  their  backs.  B.  montinus  is  interesting  be- 
cause it  is  found  only  on,  or  near,  the  summits  of  the  White 
Moimtains;  the  underside  of  the  hind  wings  is  much  darker 
than  in  myrina  and  the  silver  spots  are  not  so  large  or  so 
numerous. 

See  Plate  XXIX  and  discussion  concem- 

Phyciodes  '      Melitcea  harrisi.     The  wings  of  the  Silver 

nycteis 

Crescent  are  tawny-orange,  lighter  on  the 

under  side,  and  marked  with  black;  the  hind  wing,  below, 

is  largely  silvery  white;  the  usually  imperfect  "crescent" 

is  along  the  margin.     The  larvae,  which  feed  on  sunflowers 

and  other  Compositag,  are  brownish-black  with  a  rather 

conspicuous  orange  stripe  along  each  side;  many  rather 

short,  black,  hairy  spines.     Although  the  larvse  hibernate, 

they  do  not  seem  to  construct  a  shelter;  probably  they 

crawl  into  a  "ready-made." 

The    variable    Pearl    Crescent  has    two 

Phycio  es  broods:     those    adults    which    come    from 

tharos 

over-wmtered    larvae    are     (among    other 

differences)  brighter  and  with  more  distinct  light  markings 

on  the  under  side  (variety  marcia,  Plate  XXIX)  than  those 

which  develop  during  the  summer.     By  chilling  the  pupae 

we  can   cause   some  of  the  summer  brood  to  be  marcia. 

The  larvas  feed  on  asters  and  are  black  with  yellow  spots 

above,    yellow   side-stripes,    and    yellowish    spines.     The 

slightly  angulated    chrysalis  has  brownish    creases  on  a 

light  ground-color,  and,  on  the  middle  of  the  abdomen, 

a  slight  transverse  ridge. 

Phyciodes  batesi  differs  from  tharos  by  having  heavier 

black  markiigs  above  and  by  the  lack  of  conspicuous 

dark  markings  on  the  lower  side  of  the  hind  wings,  these 

being   almost   uniformly  pale   yellow.     There  are  many 

other  species  in  the  West. 

The  adult  Baltimore    (Plate  XXIX)   is 

e  1  aea  foimd   in   swampy   meadows   during   June 

and   July.     The    wings   are   nearly   black, 

marked  with  red  and  pale  yellow.     The  larvae,  which  feed 

chiefly  on  Scrophulariaceas,  are  dark  orange,  ringed  with 

black,  and  covered  with  short  hairy  spines.     They  hatch 

119 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


in  late  summer  and  are  gregarious,  spinning  a  silken  tent 
in  which  they  pass  the  winter;  in  the  spring  they  scatter 
and  become  full  grown  by  June.  The  chrysalids  have  a 
rounded  head,  sharp  tubercles  on  their  backs,  and  are 
whitish  with  dark  and  orange  markings. 

Resembles     Phyciodes     nycteis     on     the 

Mehtaea  upper  side,  but  the  underside  is  darker  and 

harrisi  ,  .  .     .,  , 

has  a  continuous  row  of  silver  spots  along 

the  outer  margin  of  the  hind  wings.     The  larvae  feed  on 

the  aster,  Doellingeria  umhellata;  they  are  reddish  with  a 

black  stripe  down  the  middle  and  nine  rows  of  black, 

branched  spines. 

The  species  of  Grapta  are  called  Angle- wings;  they  "look 
as  if  Mother  Nature  had  with  her  scissors  snipped  the 
edges  of  their  wings,  fashioning  notches  and  points  accord- 
ing to  the  vagaries  of  an  idle  mood."  They  are  tawny, 
with  darker  markings  above,  and  below  there  is  a  combi- 
nation of  brown  and  gra}''  which  corresponds  closely  with 
the  color  of  dead  leaves.  The  chrysalis  has  a  forked  head 
and  a  prominent  tubercle  on  the  back  of  its  thorax.  All  of 
the  species  hibernate  as  adults,  hidden  in  hollow  logs  and 
similar  places. 

By  stretching  your  imagination  a  bit  you 

Grapta     ^    ^      ^^       ^^^  ^  Question  Mark  made  by  the 

interrogatioms       .,  ,  ,         .,        -,,.. 

silver  spots  on  the  under  side  of  the  hind 

wings  but  they  look  to  me  like  (.  and  I  think  Fabriciushad 
some  other  question  on  his  mind  when  he  named  the  species 
interrogationis.  It  is  also  called  Violet-tip,  because  of  the 
violet  Papilio-like  tail.  The  summer  form  (umbrosa) 
has  the  dark  markings  on  the  upper  side  "clouded." 
Plate  XXX  shows  the  winter  form,  fabricii.  The  larva  feeds 
chiefly  on  hop  and  elm ;  it  has  a  pair  of  branched  spines  on 
the  tip  of  its  head  and  others  on  its  bod}'';  it  is  chestnut- 
colored  with  light  dots  in  longitudinal  rows.  Like  other. 
Grapta  larvae,  it  frequently  cocks  its  head  when  not  feeding. 
The  chrysalis,  which  is  the  color  of  dead  leaves,  is  very 
angular  and  has  a  "Roman  nose"  on  its  thorax:  in  addi- 
tion, the  thorax  bears  one  or  more  pairs  of  metallic  silver 
or  gold  spots. 

120 


Plate  XXIX 


Brenlhis 
myrino 


^    A\ 


MelitoeQ  phaeton 


Brenthis  bellona 


Larva 

M.  phaeton 


Phijcioiies  tharos 


Phyciodes  nycteis 


121 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


^      ^  Harris,  a  pioneer  American  entomologist. 

Grapta  comma  ,     '  .       .  &      » 

named  the  species  from  the  silver  mark  on 

the  under  side  of  the  hind  wings  (Plate  XXX);  and 
Edwards,  one  of  our  earliest  and  greatest  Lepidopter- 
ists,  named  the  lighter  hibernating  form  harrisi,  in  his 
honor,  calling  the  darker  summer  form  dryas.  The  larva 
feeds  on  hop,  nettles,  and  related  plants,  slightly  rolling 
the  leaves  for  its  protection  while  eating;  its  color  varies 
from  brown  to  greenish  white.  "  The  angulated  chrysalis 
closely  resembles  that  of  its  allies  of  the  same  genus;  it  is 
pale  wood-brown,  tinged  and  streaked  with  pale  green; 
the  base  of  the  tubercles  along  the  back  is  of  a  metallic 
color,  both  in  this  species  and  in  the  Violet-tip  (which  it 
most  resembles),  and  according  to  whether  the  color  is 
silvery  or  golden,  so  will  the  price  of  hops  (on  which  both 
are  found)  be  high  or  low,  according  to  the  hop-growers; 
and  so  these  chrysalids  are  termed  Hop-merchants." 

^  This  species  (Plate  XXX)  is  called  Gray 

Comma;  its  under  side  is  grayish  and  its 
"comma"  is  tapering  at  the  ends.  The  larva  feeds  on 
currant,  gooseberry,  etc.;  it  is  spined  much  like  the 
Violet-tip  but  the  body  is  yellowish  brown,  variegated 
above  with  dark  green.  The  chrysalis  is  a  striking 
mixtture  of  buff,  olive-green,  brown,   salmon,  and  white. 

The  larva  of  G.  faunus  feeds  on  birch,  willow,  currant, 
and  gooseberry;  the  adult's  wings  are  deeply  notched  and 
the  under  side  of  the  hind  wings,  each  of  which  has  a  silver 
mark  like  comma,  are  strongly  tinted  with  green  along  the 
outer  third — the  "leaf"  is  not  quite  dead!  It  is  an  in- 
habitant of  mountains  as  far  south  as  the  Carolinas. 

The  English  name  is  Camberwell  Beauty 
Vanessa  .  .  . 

antiopa  ^^"^t    while   rare   in   England,    this   species 

(Plate  XXX)  is  found  throughout  the  tem- 
perate regions  of  the  world  and  gets  as  far  south  as  Guate- 
mala. We  call  it  Mourning  Cloak.  It  is  the  largest  of 
those  of  our  butterflies  which  hibernate  as  adults,  and  he  - 
who  has  not  seen  it  flitting  in  the  leafless  woods  of  very 
earl}^  spring  or  "resting  on  the  black  willows,  like  a  leaf 
still  adhering"   is  indeed  unfortunate.     Just  inside  the 

122 


Plate  XXX 


GroptQ  interroqolionis 


Vanessa  anliopu- 


12' 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


yellow  margin  of  the  upper  side  is  a  row  of  blue  spots; 
the  under  side  is  the  color  of  dead  leaves.  The  eggs  are 
laid  in  masses  encircling  the  twigs  of  the  willows,  poplars, 
and  elms  upon  which  the  veh'ety-black  larva,  with  orange- 
red  spots,  feeds.  The  chrysalis  is  yellowish  brown,  with 
darker  markings  and  red-tipped  tubercles. 

Vanessa  (or  Grapta)  j-alhum,  Compton  Tortoise,  is 
slightly  smaller  than  antiopa,  tawny  orange  above  with 
(among  other  markings)  three  large  black  patches  and  a 
spot  of  white  along  the  front  margin;  below,  ashy  brown 
with  a  white  J  or  L  on  the  hind  wings.  V.  milberti,  Ameri- 
can Tortoise-shell,  is  very  dark  brown  above  with  two 
tawny  orange  spots  near  the  middle  of  the  front  margin 
and  a  broad  band  of  similar  color  across  each  wing;  under 
surface  slate-brown;  expanse,  two  inches  or  less.  Both  are 
northern  insects;  the  larva  of  the  former  feeds  on  birch, 
and  of  the  latter  on  nettles. 

The  Red  Admiral  is  found  throughout 
Pyrameis  most    of    the    northern    hemisphere.     The 

upper  surface  is  purplish  black  with  mark- 
ings as  shown  in  Plate  XXXI,  the  lightly  shaded  areas 
being  bright  orange  and  the  apical  spots  white;  the  under 
surface  of  the  hind  wings  is  marbled  and  marked  with 
wavy  lines  of  intricate  pattern  and  also  with  a  green-dusted 
submarginal  series  of  obscure  "eye-spots."  The  lar\^a, 
which  feeds  on  nettle  and  hop,  is  usually  black,  spotted 
with  yellow,  and,  like  V.  antiopa,  the  larvae  of  this  genus 
have  no  spines  on  their  heads.  The  larva  slightly  rolls, 
and  lines,  a  leaf  for  its  protection.  The  chrysalis  is  ashy 
brown  with  golden  spots  and  is  to  be  looked  for  (but  not 
always  to  be  found)  hanging  in  a  leaf  which  the  larva  has 
rolled.  Winter  is  passed  in  either  the  pupal  or  adult 
stage;  it  is  two-brooded. 

This  species  is  sometimes  called  Hunter's 

Pyrameis  Butterfly  or  Painted  Beauty.     The  upper 

huntera  .  .       ^  ^     .  .  .' 

surface    is    tawny    orange    and    brownish 

black,  except  for  the  white  spots  shown  in  Plate  XXXI; 

the  under  side  of  the  hind  wings  has  two  eye-like  spots.  The 

larva  feeds  on  various  "everlastings"  and  is  velvety  black 

124 


Plate  XXXI 


BasilQrchiQ  QSlyanax 


Pyramei's  atalantQ 


Pyramels  cardul 


^^  JunonJQ 
.V    coenia 


12- 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


with  narrow  cross  lines  of  yellow  and  a  row  of  white  spots 
on  each  side.  At  first  it  makes  a  mat,  imder  which  it 
feeds,  of  silk  and  the  hairs  of  its  food  plant ;  later  it  fastens 
leaves  together  and  often  pupates  in  this  nest.  The 
chrysalis  is  difficult  to  describe.  Find  it.  There  are  two 
broods  a  year  but  pupae  are  to  be  found  from  June  to  March, 
although  the  adult  usually  emerges  early  and  hibernates. 

I  like   "Thistle   Butterfly"   better  than 
Pyrameis  "Painted  Lady"  since  this  lady  "was  bom 

that  way."  The  upper  side  is  much  like 
huntera;  below,  however,  the  hind  wings  (Plate  XXXI) 
each  have  more  than  two,  usually  four,  good  eye-spots. 
The  head  of  the  larva  is  hairy  on  top ;  the  body  is  greenish 
yellow,  mottled  with  black,  and  the  bristly  spines  are 
yellowish.  It  feeds  on  burdock,  thistle,  sunflower,  holly- 
hock, and  other  plants,  making  a  shelter  much  like  that  of 
huntera.  The  chrysalis  is  greenish  or  bluish  white,  marked 
with  black  and  brown,  and  with  tubercles  which  are 
often  gold-tipped.  This  species  is  found  throughout  the 
habitable  world  with  the  exception  of  South  America. 
It  occasionally  migrates  in  swarms. 

The  upper  surface  of  the  Buckeye  (Plate 
Junonia  coema      ,_^^^^^.     .       i     ,     ,  .,  i 

XXXI)   IS   dark   brown   with   conspicuous 

peacock-like  eye-spots,  small  orange  spots,  a  dull  whit- 
ish band  on  each  front  wing  and  a  narrow  but  conspicu- 
ous band  of  yellowish  orange  on  each  hind  wing;  the 
under  surface  is  gray-brown  with  much  the  same  mark- 
ings except  that  the  eye-spots  of  the  hind  wings  are  much 
reduced.  The  larva  feeds  on  plantain,  snapdragon,  and 
Gerardia;  it  is  dark  gray,  with  yellow  stripes  and  spots, 
and  with  purple  spines,  one  pair  of  which  is  on  the  head. 
It  is  a  southern  species  which  gets  as  far  north  as  New 
England. 

The  upper  side  of  the  Red-spotted  Purple 
Basilarchia  jg  black  and  pale  blue  or  green;  the  lower 

side  is  brown  with  a  submarginal  row  of  red 
spots,  two  red  spots  at  the  base  of  the  fore  wings,  and  four 
at  the  base  of  the  hind  wings.  The  curiously  shaped  larva 
is  mottled  with  brown,  olivaceous,  and  cream;  it  feeds  on 

126 


PURPLES  AND  THE  VICEROY. 


the  leaves  of  a  variety  of  woody  plants,  especially  willow 
and  wild  cherry.  When  young,  it  is  much  given  to  eating 
each  side  of  the  outer  end  of  a  leaf  and  using  the  midrib, 
strengthened  with  silk,  etc.,  as  a  perch  on  which  to  rest. 
When  about  half  grown,  it  rolls  the  uneaten  portion 
together,  lines  it  and  fastens  it  to  the  twig  with  silk,  and 
passes  the  winter  in  this  snug  retreat.  Scudder  describes 
the  chrysalis  as  "grotesquely  variegated  with  patches  and 
streaks  of  pale  salmon,  dark  olivaceous,  inky  plumbeous, 
and  yellow-brown,  the  lighter  tints  prevailing."  The  name 
Limenitis  is  often  used  instead  of  Basilarchia  and  this 
species  is  sometimes  called  Ursula.  There  are  apparent 
intergrades  between  this  and  the  following  species. 

Plate  XXVII  gives  a  sufficient  descrip- 
Basilarchia  ^^q^^  q£  ^j^g  upper  side  of  the  Banded  Purple; 

arthenus  ^^^  under  side  is  dark  brown  with  similar 

markings  and  some  orange  spots  in  addition.  The  larva 
feeds  on  birch,  willow,  poplar,  etc.;  it  is  somewhat  like 
astyanax  (but  has  a  saddle  of  pale  buff)  and  has  similar 
habits.  Like  some  other  yoimg  butterflies,  it  loosely 
fastens  a  small  ball  of  leaf-scraps  near  its  feeding  place; 
this  is  supposed  to  distract  an  enemy's  attention  from  it- 
self. This  Canadian  species  reaches  into  northern  United 
States  in  the  high  altitudes. 

Plate  XXVII  shows  the  Viceroy,  which  is 
Basilarchia  ^^gQ  called  disippus,  in  three  of  its  stages. 

archippus  Anosia   plexippus   is    beHeved    to    have    a 

taste  which  birds  do  not  like  and,  as  that  species  has  a 
very  striking  appearance,  any  species  which  resembles  it 
would  be  likely  to  be  unmolested  by  them.  B.  archippus 
is  said  to  "mimic"  A.  plexippus  for  the  sake  of  this  pro- 
tection but  that  implies  more  than  we  know,  all  of  which 
is  that  the  two  look  marvelously  alike  and  that  archippus 
has  departed  widely  from  the  appearance  of  its  relatives. 
Plate  XXVII  was  arranged  to  illustrate  vividly  this  case 
of  "mimicry,"  arthemis  being  taken  as  an  example  of 
the  relatives  of  Basilarchia.  Equally  striking  instances 
of  the  same  phenomenon  are  known  in  tropical  butterflies. 
The  larva,  which  feeds  on  willow  and  poplar,  varies  greatly 
in  its  coloration. 

127 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Skipping  a  number  of  species  which  are  not  likely  to  be 
seen  by  many  users  of  this  book,  we  come  to  the  sub- 
family SatyrincB,  the  Nymphs  and  Satyrs,  sometimes 
more  descriptively  called  the  Meadow-browns.  Their 
larvae  have  the  last  segment  forked  and  the  chrysalids  are 
rounded. 


Debis 


The  brown  of  Pearly  Eye's  wings  (Plate 
XXXII)    has   been   described   as    "clay," 
portan  m  ^'goft^"  "Quaker  drab"  and  "with  pearly 

gray  tints."  The  spots  on  the  under  surface  are  distinctly 
eyed  and  there  are  conspicuous  pearly  violet  markings. 
The  larva  is  yellowish  green  with  red-tipped  horns  and 
caudal  forks;  it  feeds  on  grasses  and  hibernates  when  about 
half  grown. 

The  color  of  the  upper  side  of  the  Grass 
c^Sut^^  Nymph's    wings    (Plate    XXXII)    is    de- 

scribed as  "mouse-brown";  below  it  is  slaty 
brown  and  the  eye-spots  are  larger  than  those  on  the  upper 
surface.  The  tubercles  on  the  head  of  the  green  larva  are 
red,  striped  with  brown,  and  the  tails  are  also  red;  it  feeds 
on  coarse  grasses  and  sedges  and,  unlike  its  near  relatives,  is 
active  by  day.  It  is  rather  local  in  its  distribution,  pre- 
ferring moist  meadows. 

This  lover  of  shady  forest-edges,  the  Little 
eurytus  Wood-satyr  (Plate  XXXII),  is  dark  brown 

above  and  lighter  below,  where  the  eye- 
spots  are  more  distinctly  ringed  with  yellow.  The  larva 
is  greenish  white,  marked  with  brown,  but  there  is  no  red; 
it  feeds  on  grasses. 

Neonympha  phocion  is  a  southern  relative  of  eurytus; 
it  has  no  spots  above  and  the  three  (or  four)  spots  on  the 
underside  of  the  hind  wings  are  so  narrowed  that  they 
might  be  called  squint-eyed.  The  reader  may  find  other 
species  of  this  genus  but  will  recognize  them  as  Satyrin£e, 
at  least. 

The  dark  brown  Common  Wood-nymph 
Satyrus  alope 

(Plate  XXXII)  has  several  varieties,  which 

are    sometimes    considered    to    be  distinct  species.     The 

form  in  which  the  yellow  bands  on  the  fore  wings  are 

128 


Plate  XXXII 


Sotyrus  Qtope 


variety  nephele 


129 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


clouded  with  brown  is  called  neplieh  and  replaces  alope 
in  the  north,  New  York  City  being  in  the  tension 
zone.  Together,  they  and  other  varieties  of  alope  cover 
practically  the  whole  of  the  United  States  and  Canada. 
Along  the  Atlantic  coast  some  individuals  (called  man- 
tima)  have  the  yellow  band  orange.  The  green  larva 
has  no  "horns"  on  its  head  and  is  devoid  of  markings 
except  for  two  pale  stripes  on  each  side ;  it  feeds  on  grasses. 

The  figure  of  the  Snout-butterfly  (Plate 
bichmini  XXXIII)   saves  further  description.     The 

"snout"  is  made  up  of  elongated  palpi — 
a  characteristic  of  the  subfamily  Libytheinae,  of  which  this 
is  the  only  representative  in  the  Northeast,  and  probably 
other  U.  S.  forms  are  merely  varieties.  Curiously  enough, 
the  males  have  only  four  usable  feet  although  the  females 
have  six.  The  larva  feeds  on  hackberry  and  wolf  berry; 
its  last  two  thoracic  segments  are  slightly  thickened;  this 
"hump"  bears  two  black  tubercles  ringed  with  yellow; 
the  general  body- color  is  green  and  there  are  three  longi- 
tudinal stripes  of  yellow. 

Erycinid^ 

According  to  the  system  followed  here,  the  same  as  is 
used  by  Holland  in  his  Butterfly  Book,  all  the  species  thus 
far  considered  belong  to  the  family  Nymphalidae.  We 
come  now  to  the  Lemoniidae  or  Erycinids,  a  family  whose 
chief  home  is  the  American  tropics.  Their  common  name 
is  IMetal-marks.  The  same  sexual  difference  in  legs  [as 
was  noted  in  the  Libytheinas  and  as  exists  also  in  the 
Lycasnidae  holds  here.  All  the  Nymphalid  chrysalids 
hang  by  their  tails;  the  Erycinid  chrysalids  have  their 
tails  fastened  but  they  also  have  a  silken  support  for  their 
backs  which  holds  them  upright. 

The      Northern       Metal-mark       (Plate 
boreauf'^  XXXIII)     ranges     from     South    Carolina 

to  New  York  and  IVIichigan  and  is  the 
only  Erycinid  to  be  found  so  far  north;  a  somewhat 
similar  but  smaller  species  (C  virginiensis,  not  ccenius) 
is  found  just  south  of  it. 

130 


THE  HAIR=STREAKS. 


LvC/ENIDiE 


The  Hair-streaks,  Coppers,  and  Blues  puzzle  even 
the  professional.  Legs  ("more  or  less")  and  method  of 
hanging  chrysalids  are  as  in  Erycinidas,  but  the  Lycaenidae 
have  neither  a  costal  nor  a  humeral  vein  in  the  hind  wings. 
Please  do  not  ask  any  more  questions  just  now  but  see 
Plate  XXXIII,  which  will  give  you  a  general  notion  of  the 
appearance  of  these  creatures.  The  larvae  are  fiat  and 
something  like  slugs. 

The  larva  of  the  Common  or  Gray  Hair- 
Thecla  streak  feeds  on  the  developing  seeds  of  hop, 

beans,  Cynoglossum,  Hypericum,  and  other 
plants.  Plate  XXXIII  shows  the  adult.  In  the  South- 
east there  are  two  species  whose  upper  sides  somewhat 
resemble  melinus:  T.  wittfeldi,  which  is  larger  and  has 
conspicuous  blue  scales  at  the  rear  angles  of  its  hind  wings; 
and  T.  favonius,  which  has  a  red  spot  on  each  fore  wing. 

The  larva  of  the  Olive  Hair-streak  feeds 
Thecla  ^^  cedar,  but  not  smilax  as  some  books 

say.  The  species  is  found  in  the  East  from 
Ontario  to  Texas,  and  several  varieties  have  been  described. 
Plate  XXXIII  shows  that  the  adult  is  greenish  below. 
T.  halesus  (Illinois  southward)  is  iridescent  bluish-green 
above  on  the  thorax  and  basal  half  of  the  wings;  below, 
the  front  wings  are  nearly  plain;  all  of  the  wings  have  a 
crimson  spot  near  the  base  and  there  are  three  rows  of 
green  spots  on  each  hind  wing.  T.  m-album  (New  Jersey 
and  Wisconsin  southward)  is  bluish  on  the  inner  half  of 
the  upper  surface  but,  below,  each  fore  wing  is  crossed 
by  two  lines  of  white,  one  of  which  is  continued  on  the  hind 
wing  and  is  M-shaped  at  the  rear.  The  larvae  of  both  feed 
on  oak. 

In  addition,  the  following  have  more  or  less  safe  (for  the 
Northeast)  catch  characters: 

Hind  wings  with  long  tails. 

T.  cecrops:  a  red  band  across  the  lower  surface  of  the 
wings  just  beyond  the  middle;  New  Jersey  and  Indiana 
southward;  larva  unknown.     T.  calanus:  a  double  row  of 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


close,  dark,  blue-edged  spots  just  beyond  the  middle; 
Quebec  to  Colorado  and  Texas;  larva  on  oak,  chestnut, 
and  walnut.  T.  liparops:  numerous,  broken,  white  cross- 
lines  on  imder  surface;  north  of  the  Gulf  States  to  Quebec 
and  the  Rockies,  not  common;  larva  on  Vaccinium  (other 
food  records  are  probably  erroneous). 

Hind  wings  with  almost,  or  quite,  no  tail. 

T.  titus:  a  row  of  coral-red  spots  on  under  side  of  hind 
wings;  Canada  to  Florida  and  the  Rockies;  larva  on  plum 
and  wild  cherry.  T.  niphon:  fringe  of  upper  side  of  wings 
alternately  brown  and  white,  under  side  of  wings  rich, 
mottled  brown,  with  distinct  wavy  white  lines;  larva  on 
pines;  Nova  Scotia  to  Colorado.  T.  augustus:  expanse 
less  than  one  inch  (smallest  of  the  group),  below  uniform 
rusty  brown  except  for  darker  basal  area  of  the  hind  wings; 
larva  on  Kalmia  and  Vaccinium;  North  Atlantic  States, 
northward  and  westward. 

Probably  all  the  Thecla  larv^  are  attended  by  ants  for 
the  sake  of  their  sweetish  excretions  and  titus,  at  least, 
regularly  passes  the  day  in  ants'  nests,  feeding  by  night. 

Scudder,    the    Master    Lepidopterist,    in 

Femseca  whose  works  most  of  the  statements  con- 

tarquinius  .        ,  ^.  ,  .  ,  .  .        ,  • 

cernmg  butterflies  which  are  given  m  this 

and  similar  books  are  to  be  found,  used  "The  Wanderer" 
as  the  nickname  for  this  species  (Plate  XXXIII)  but  says 
in  Everyday  Butterflies  that  it  is  "a  very  local  insect,  and 
apparently  never  wanders  more  than  a  few  rods  from  its 
birthplace."  Holland,  who  has  done  so  much  to  popu- 
larize the  study  of  Lepidoptera,  uses  as  the  English  name 
"The  Harvester,"  but  harvesting  connotes  vegetable 
products.  I  am  taking  the  liberty  of  dubbing  it  The 
Carnivore  because  its  lar\'a  alone,  of  all  our  butterflies, 
is  regularly  a  meat-eater  although  its  relatives,  if  pressed 
by  hunger,  will  eat  each  other.  The  female  lays  her  eggs, 
usually  singly,  in,  or  near,  masses  of  aphids  (plant  lice), 
especially  of  the  woolly  aphis  of  the  alder.  The  larva  has 
mandibles  with  four  sharp,  claw-like  teeth  and  the  whole 
mouth  is  fitted  for  sucking  the  bod}^  fluids  of  the  victims. 
If  aphids  are  the  ants'  cows,  tarquinitis  is  a  beef-eater. 

132 


Plate  XXXIII 


LijCoeno 
comijntQs 


Chrysophanus 
hypophloeus 


TheclQ  melinus 


i_ 


bythea 
bQChmon 


FenlsecQ  tarquinius 


TheclQ  damon 


Calephelis 
borealis 


THE  COPPERS  AND  BLUES. 


Possibly  in  order  to  hide  from  the  ants,  which  might  resent 
their  ravages,  the  larvae  live  in  a  silken  web  which  the}' 
spin  and  cover  with  empty  "hides."  Possibly  it  is  this 
strong  diet  which  quickens  the  metamorphosis,  for  the 
larva  reaches  the  pupal  stage  in  three,  instead  of  four 
or  five,  molts.  Scudder  points  out  a  resemblance  to  a 
monkey's  face  in  the  markings  of  the  chrysalis  (enlarged 
in  Plate  XXXIII).  This  species,  whose  nearest  relatives 
live  chiefly  in  Asia  and  Africa,  is  found  from  Nova  Scotia 
to  the  Gulf  States  and  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  It 
should  be  said  that  the  markings  on  the  upper  side  of  the 
adult  are  variable;  the  under  side  is  paler  and  the  hind 
wings  have  many  small  light-brown  spots  not  appearing 
above. 

There    are   other   American    Coppers — 
Chrysophanus     butterflies,     I     mean,— but     this     species 
ypop    aeus  ^^^^^^  XXXIII)  was  once  "really-named" 

americanuSj  hence  the  "common"  name.  The  adult  is  a 
fearless,  pugnacious,  active,  little  beauty.  The  larva 
feeds  on  sorrel  (Rumex).  Pupation  usually  takes  place 
under  an  over-hanging  stone,  in  which  condition  one 
brood  passes  the  winter. 

The  Bronze  Copper  is  about  half  again 
Chrysophanus  ^^  large  as  hypophlcBus;  the  female  resembles 
that  species  on  its  upper  side  except  that 
the  dark  base  of  the  hind  wing  does  not  extend  out  so  far; 
the  male  differs  from  both  in  having  the  upper  surface 
of  the  front  wing  almost  as  dark  as  the  base  of  the  hind 
wing  and  with  a  violet  reflection.  The  larva  feeds  on 
Rumex.  There  are  two  annual  broods,  and  winter  is 
passed  in  the  egg.  Ranges  from  ]Maine  to  Pennsylvania 
and  Colorado. 

The  delicate  hair-like  tails  of  the  Eastern 
Lycsna  ^^-^^^   g^^^    ^p^^^^   XXXIII)    will   repav 

comyntas  . 

close  examination;  the}^  have  a  white  tip. 

The   female   is   largely   dark   brown   above.     The  larvae 

feed  on  clover  and  other  Legtmies,  those  of  one  of  the  three 

annual  broods  hibernating. 

133 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


The  Common  Blue  is  also  called  pseud' 
Lycaena  ladon  argiolus  and  the  Spring  Azure.  Small,  blue 
butterflies  are  pretty  sure  to  be  this  species,  if  they  have 
no  tails;  but  it  is  a  creature  of  many  fashions,  some  of 
which  are  shown  in  Plate  XXXIII.  These  forms  are 
partly  sexual,  partly  seasonal  (there  are  two  broods 
around  New  York),  partly  climatic,  and  probably  partly 
something  else.  The  larvae  feed  on  the  flowers  of 
various  plants  including  Cornus,  Cimicifuga,  Actinomeris, 
SpircBa,  and  Ceanothus.  Ants  attend  the  larvae  and, 
by  touching  them  with  their  antennae,  induce  the  lar^^ae 
to  excrete  from  abdominal  glands  a  sweet  fluid  which  the 
ants  drink. 

PAPILIONIDiE 

Both  sexes  of  the  Swallow-tails  and  their  relatives  have, 
normally,  six  good  walking  legL,.  The  chrysalids  have  a 
silk  supporting  strap  around  them  but  it  does  not  hold 
them  as  closely  to  the  surface  upon  which  they  are  fixed  as 
in  the  Erycinidae  and  Lycaenidae. 

This  imdesirable  immigrant,  the  Im- 
Pierisrapae  p^^^^^  Cabbage-butterfly  (Plate  XXXIV), 
is  the  only  butterfly  which  seriously  injures  our  crops. 
It  was  accidentally  introduced  from  Europe  in  i860  at 
Quebec  and  in  1868  at  New  York;  in  twenty  years  it 
covered  about  half  of  the  United  States  and  Canada;  now 
no  cabbage  patch  from  coast  to  coast  is  too  small  or  too 
isolated  for  rap(B.  The  well-known  green  larva  feeds  on  a 
variety  of  cruciferous  plants  but  likes  cabbage  best — 
Thank  you!  There  are  usually  three  broods  a  season, 
winter  being  passed  as  a  chrysalis  from  which  adults 
emerge  early  in  the  spring  before  the  native  cabbage 
butterflies  are  stirring.  These  early  spring  adults  are 
smaller  and  less  heavily  marked  than  the  summer  form, 
which  is  here  illustrated.  Some  individuals  (variety 
immaculata)  are  without  the  black  spots  on  the  upper 
side  of  the  wings  but  the  underside  of  the  hind  wings  are 
yellowish  as  in  the  typical  form. 

134 


Plate  XXXIV 


Pierls  ropoe 


Pieri5  prolodice 


P-i^^P'  Euchloe  qenutfa 

oleraceQ  ^ 

Largely  White  Butterjlies 


135 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


The  Checkered  White   (Plate   XXXIV) 

^®"^,.  is  also  called  the  Southern  Cabbage  Butter- 

protodice  ^ 

fly  and  used  to  be  called  the  Common  White 

but,  like  our  other  native  cabbage-feeders,  its  numbers 
are  diminishing  as  those  of  the  foreigner  increase.  The 
larvae  feed  on  crucifers  and,  when  they  get  a  chance  at 
cabbage,  they  merely  eat  the  outside  leaves,  which  are  not 
worth  much  at  any  rate.  The  veins  on  the  under  side  of 
the  female's  wings,  especially  the  hind  ones,  are  tinged 
with  greenish  yellow.  Those  adults  which  come  from 
overwintered  chrysalids  (var.  vernalis)  have  so  mud: 
greenish  gray  on  the  hind  wings  that  the  white  is  reduced 
to  narrow  triangular  spots;  spots  on  the  upper  side  arc 
much  reduced,  or  even  absent. 

The  larva  of  the  Old-fashioned  Cabbagc- 
Piens  napi  butterfly  now  feeds    on    such  crucifers   as 

it  can  get,  but  it  is  said  to  have  been  the  Cabbage 
Butterfly.  Some  call  it  the  JVIustard  White;  some, 
the  Gray- veined  White.  The  Comstocks  say  "The 
species  is  essentially  northern,  but  it  spread  far  south 
when  Pieris  rapes  was  introduced.  In  some  way  the 
European  species  has  greatly  reduced  its  numbers;  it  has 
literally  taken  to  the  woods  as  a  result  of  this  invasion 
and  is  seldom  found  elsewhere."  It  is  naturally  (not  by  hu- 
man intervention)  found  in  Europe  and  throughout  North 
America  as  far  south  as  the  Gulf  States,  but  it  varies  greatly 
with  region  and  season.  Plate  XXXIV  shows  the  form 
you  are  most  likely  to  see.  To  quote  the  Comstocks  again : 
"E\ddently  this  species  has  not  concluded  whether  it  will 
in  its  final  form  be  all  white;  or  have  the  front  margins 
and  tips  of  the  front  wings  blackish;  or  have  one  spot  on 
each  front  and  hind  wing;  or  have  one  black  blotch  along 
the  wings  outside  the  middle;  or  if  it  will  have  the  veins 
of  both  wings  above  penciled  with  gray." 

In  the  Gulf  States  there  is  Pieris  monuste,  which  has  a, 
wing  expanse  of  from  1.75  to  2.3  inches;  the  male  is  whitish 
above,  except  for  a  narrow  brown  outer  margin  to  the  fore 
wings ;  the  female  has  a  broad  brown  outer  margin  on  the 
fore  wings,  as  well  as  a  narrow  brown  outer  margin  on  the 
hind  wings,  above. 

136 


THE  COMMON  SULPHUR, 


Do  not  be  disturbed  if  you  see  the  generic  name  Pontia 
instead  of  Pieris;  it  is  probably  better.  See  also  Colias 
for  a  white  butterfly  which  may  confuse  you. 

Plate    XXXIV  shows  the  male   Falcate 
Euchloe  Orange-tip,  the  orange  tip  being  indicated 

genutia  ^^  shading.     The  female  has  no  such  tip 

on  the  upper  surface  and  neither  sex  has  it  below,  the 
markings  there  being  light  greenish  brown.  The  larva, 
which  feeds  on  rock-cress,  shepherd's-purse,  and  other 
Cruciferae,  is  bluish  green,  with  pale  dorsal  and  side  stripes, 
but,  if  you  look  closely,  you  can  see  fine  stripes  of  other 
colors. 

Probably  you  have  noticed  that,  among 
Colias  g^  flock  of  yellow  butterflies,  the  Common 

^  *  °  ^*^^  Sulphurs,  which  rises  from  a  roadside  pool 

as  you  pass,  there  is  sometimes  a  white  individual.  This 
is  usually  an  albino  philodice  and,  if  so,  almost  certainl}'- 
a  female.  However,  even  when  white,  the  species 
can  be  distinguished  from  Pieris  by  the  silvery-centered 
spots  on  the  under  side  of  the  wings  (see  Plate  XXXV). 
The  common,  but  rarely  noticed,  green  larvas  feed  upon 
clover  leaves. 

Colias  eurytheme  is  about  as  variable  as  P.  napi  but  can 
usually  be  recognized  by  the  strong  orange  tint  of  the 
yellow  on  the  upper  side  and  the  marginal  markings  which 
suggest  philodice.     Its  larva  feeds  on  clover. 

Most  of  us  will  agree  with  the  Comstocks 
Meganostoma  ^^^^  ^^^  "face"  of  the  Dog-face  (Plate 
XXXV)  is  more  Hke  that  of  a  duck  than  of 
a  dog.  However,  it  makes  the  species  easily  recognizable. 
You  may  find  it  listed  in  some  books  under  Colias  or  Zerene; 
in  nature  you  will  find  it  from  Pennsylvania  (very  rarely) 
and  southern  Wisconsin  to  the  Gulf  States.  Its  larva 
feeds  on  false  indigio  (Amorpha)  and  (?)  clover. 

Catopsilia  euhule:  Nearly  every  year  strong-flying 
individuals  of  this  southern  species  get  even  further 
north  than  Long  Island;  it  has  a  wing  expanse  of  2.5  inches; 

137 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


the  male  is  plain  yellow  above,  and  the  female  has  a  row 
of  dark  brown  spots  along  the  outer  margin  of  the  front 
wings  and  a  somewhat  similar  spot  in  the  center  of  these 
wings.     The  larva  feeds  on  Cassia  and  other  legumes. 

The  Little  Sulphur  may  be  recognized 
Teriaslisa  ^^  ^^^^^  ^f  pi^^^  XXXV;  the  female  is 

paler  on  the  upper  side  than  the  male  and  the  black 
border  of  the  hind  wing  is  much  broken  or  nearly  ab- 
sent. The  larva  feeds  on  Cassia  and  there  are  three 
broods,  but  we  are  not  sure  how  our  northern  winters 
are  passed.  My  guess  would  be  that  they  are  passed 
in  the  South,  after  the  fashion  of  Anosia  plexippus.  In 
this  connection  it  should  be  said  that  "clouds"  of  the 
autumn  brood  of  adults  have  been  noted  as  landing  on 
Bermuda  from  the  northwest,  having  covered  six  hundred 
miles  of  ocean.     Albinic  individuals  are  sometimes  found. 

Terias  nicippe  is  much  like  lisa  but  somewhat  larger; 
the  front  wings  of  both  sexes  are  tinged  with  orange  and 
the  hind  wings,  especially  of  the  female,  have  short,  but 
rather  broad,  cross-spots  of  iron-rust  color.  The  larval 
food  and  (?)  life  history  are  the  same  as  lisa.  In  the 
Gulf  States  there  are  three  rather  common  species  (elathea, 
delia,  and  jucunda)  which  cannot  be  differentiated  in  a 
few  words;  they  may  be  known  collectively  by  being 
something  like  lisa  but  with  a  conspicuous  dark  band 
along  the  hind  margin  of  the  front  wings,  upper  surface. 
This  generalization,  however,  includes  Nathalis  iole, 
which  occurs  from  southern  Indiana  to  Colorado  and 
northern  Mexico.  Its  small  size  (wing  expanse  of  not  over 
1.25  inches)  helps  one  to  "spot"  it. 

The  Sulphurs  and  Whites  are  classed  together  as  the 
Pierin£e.  The  Swallow-tails  (Papilio)  and  the  western 
genus  Parnassius  make  up  the  subfamily  Papilioninae. 

This    is    the    Giant    Swallow-tail.     The 

^^' '°    ,  adult   shown   on    Plate   I     is  smaller   and 

crespnontes  ,  ,    „  ,  ,  _, 

somewhat   duller  than   the   average.     The 

form  of  all  of  the  stages  shown  is  typical  of  Papilios.       In 

the  South  it  is  called  Orange  Dog  because  its  larva  feeds 

138 


Plate  XXXV 


Colias  philodice 


MeqanostomQ  coesonlQ 
139 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


on  citrus  leaves,  and  some  authors  use  thoas  as  its  specific 
name,  but  this  should  be  applied  to  a  more  southern 
species.  The  horns  on  the  larva  are  fleshly  affairs,  which 
may  be  withdrawn  or  extruded  through  a  slit  in  the 
thorax;  not  only  is  their  sudden  appearing  supposed  to 
frighten  the  larva's  enemies  but  these  horns  exhale  an 
odor  which,  in  some  species,  is  quite  disagreeable — in 
other  words,  the  young  of  the  beautiful  creatures  are 
insect  skunks.  The  meaning  of  the  color  on  the  right 
side  of  the  adult,  as  shown  in  Plate  I,  is  explained  on  p. 
115.  The  wings  are  more  largely  yellow  below  than  above. 
The  home  of  this  species  is  the  North  American  subtropics, 
but  it  seems  to  be  working  northward  (where  the  larva 
feeds  on  prickly  ash  and  Ptelea)  and  has  been  taken  in 
Canada.  There  are  from  two  to  four  annual  broods, 
depending  upon  location. 

Papilio  One  of  the  rules  about  scientific  names  is 

glaucus  and  that  the  first  name  used  for  a  species,  if 
var.  urnus  accompanied    by   a    description,     shall    be 

the  name.  Now  Linnaeus  evidently  intended  to  call  the 
yellow  Tiger  Swallow-tail  turnus,  but,  in  his  description, 
he  first  referred  to  the  dark  form  of  the  female  (Plate 
XXXVI),  which  is  rare  in  the  North  but  common  in  the 
South,  as  glaucus;  therefore  glaucus  is  the  name  of  the 
species,  but  you  may  call  it  turnus.  The  larva  feeds  on 
orchard  and  other  trees,  especially  wild  cherry,  but  is 
never  injurious.  It  has  the  luxurious  habit  of  spinning 
a  web  on  top  of  a  leaf,  drawing  it  so  tightly  that  it  has  a 
spring  couch  upon  which  to  rest  when  not  feeding.  There 
is  a  pair  of  eye-like  spots  on  the  thorax,  and,  when  the 
true  head  is  drawn  under  so  that  these  appear  to  be  on  the 
head,  the  thoracic  "horns"  are  shot  out,  and  the  front 
part  of  the  body  is  swayed  back  and  forth,  even  you  might 
hesitate  to  disturb  its  siesta. 


The  Spice-bush  Swallow-tail  is  sometimes 
Papilio  called  the  Green-clouded  Swallow-tail  be- 

troilus 

cause  01  the  color  of  the  upper  surface  of  the 
hind  wings;  the  female  does  not  have  the  green  so  pro- 
nounced but  has  hazy  blue  spots  along  the  cloud's  outer 

140 


I  roil  US 


Plate  XXXVI 

P  Q  p  i  I  i  0 


turnus       5'^^^^^ 


poiLjxenes 


p  h  i  I  e  n  0  r 


THE  SWALLOW-TAILS. 


margin  (Plate  XXXVI  shows  the  male);  below,  the 
front  margin,  at  least,  of  the  green  cloud  is  replaced  by  a 
row  of  orange  spots.  The  larva  feeds  chiefly  on  sassafras 
and  spice-bush  (Benzoin);  it  makes  a  series  of  succcessively 
larger  shelters  for  its  resting  times  by  folding  a  leaf  at  the 
midrib,  fastening  the  fold  by  silk  threads  placed  near  the 
crease  instead  of  at  the  edges.  It  keeps  these  shelters 
scrupulously  clean,  eating  its  cast  skin,  when  it  molts, 
except  that  it  throws  out  the  inedible  cast  "skulk" 

A  sometimes-used  scientific  name,  asterias, 
Papilio  -g  ^jgQ  ^j^g  common  name.     Plate  XXXVI 

po  yxene  shows  the  female;  the  male  is  not  so  dark, 

his  blue  spots  are  not  so  pronounced,  but  his  yellow  spots 
on  the  inner  row  are  much  larger.  The  larva  is  wasteful; 
it  eats  our  parsley  and  carrots,  instead  of  sticking  to 
umbelliferous  weeds,  and  does  not  eat  its  cast  skins  as  do 
its  near  relatives;  otherwise  it  is  a  beautiful  creature 
which,  like  many  of  its  relatives,  changes  the  color  and 
cut  of  its  dress  at  every  molt,  and  which  will  stick  out 
its  orange  horns  if  you  but  threaten  to  poke  it.  The 
species  is  found  throughout  the  Atlantic  States  and  the 
Mississippi  Valley;  what  have  been  considered  races  of  it 
extend  this  distribution  to  most  parts  of  North  America 
and  south  to  Cuba  and  Peru. 

Plate  XXXVI  shows  the  male  Pipe-vine 
Papiho  Swallow-tail;    the    female    has    a    row    of 

distinct  spots  on  each  fore  wing,  correspond- 
ing to  those  on  the  hind  wings.  The  inner  m.argins  of 
the  male's  hind  wings  are  folded  over  and  contain  scales 
which  give  off  a  faint  odor,  presimiably  for  the  sake  of 
pleasing  the  female.  It  should  be  said  that  many  male 
Lepidoptera  have  similar  scent-scales,  placed  in  various 
parts  of  the  wings,  body,  and  legs.  The  larva  of  philenor 
feeds  on  the  Dutchman's-pipe  {Aristolochia)  and  differs 
from  most  of  its  relatives  by  having,  even  when  mature, 
fleshy  spines  on  several  of  the  front  and  rear  segments. 
Instead  of  depositing  her  eggs  singly,  the  female  lays  them 
in  little  bunches;  and  the  larvas,  when  yoimg,  feed  side 
by  side  at  the  edge  of  a  leaf. 

141 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Papilio  palamedes  (wing-expanse,  4  to  4X  inches) 
suggests  a  giant  polyxenes  in  which  the  inner  row  of  yellow 
spots  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  hind  wings  is  a  continuous 
band  and  there  are  three  yellow  spots  near  the  front 
between  two  rows  on  the  fore  wings.  Its  normal  range  is 
from  Virginia  and  IMissouri  to  Florida  and  Texas,  its  larva 
feeding  on  Magnolia  and  Lauraceae. 

Papilio  marcellus  (formerly  called  ajax)  suggests 
tiirnus,  but  has  tails  twice  as  long,  is  white  instead  of 
yellow,  has  more  black  on  the  upper  surface  and,  in  addi- 
tion, a  red  spot  or  two  near  the  middle  of  the  inner  (hind) 
margin  of  the  hind  wings.  It  is  found  almost  everywhere 
that  its  larval  food  (papaw)  occurs  in  the  eastern  half  of 
the  United  States. 

We  have  other  species  of  Papilio,  especially  in  our 
West  and  Southwest ;  some  having  no  tails  (e.  g.  polydamas, 
which  also  carries  perfume,  of  Florida),  some  two  tails 
(e.  g.  daunus  of  the  western  mountains),  and  the  rare 
piliimnus  of  Arizona  having  three  tails. 

Hesperiid^ 

I  fear  that  Plate  XXXVII  will  be  exasperating  to 
those  attempting  to  start  an  acquaintance  with  this 
interesting  but  most  difficult  family.  However,  there  has 
been  but  little  call  for  information  concerning  them,  and 
there  are  so  many  species  that  a  great  number  must  neces- 
sarily be  omitted.  There  are  at  least  fifty  species  in  New 
Jersey — other  regions  are  also  well,  many  better,  supplied, 
about  2000  species  having  been  described.  The  adults 
are,  for  the  most  part,  small  and  fly  with  rapid  starts  and 
stops,  as  is  indicated  by  their  nickname.  Skippers.  When 
resting,  many  of  them  (especially  the  Pamphilina)  hold 
the  front  wings  at  an  angle  different  from  that  of  the  hind 
pair.  Both  sexes  have  six  feet ;  their  eyes  are  overhung 
with  curving  "lashes"  and  the  antennae  of  many  species 
are  hooked  at  the  tip. 

The  larvae  are  smooth  and  usually  have  a  head,  some- 
what rough  and  hairy,  which  looks  too  big  and  seems  to 
be  supported  by  a  too  slender  neck.  The  appearance  of 
many  suggests  moth  larvae,  and  nearly  all    of  the  species 

142 


THE  SKIPPERS. 


show  a  further  resemblance  to  moths  in  that  they  spin  a 
sort  of  cocoon  within  which  they  pupate.  This  cocoon  is 
never  very  thick  or  complete  and  is  merely  a  further 
development  of  a  habit  of  the  younger  larvae;  still,  it  is 
more  of  a  cocoon  than  some  moths  make.  The  habit, 
just  referred  to,  consists  of  folding  leaves  or  fastening 
several  together  with  silk  so  that  the  lar\^ae  may  have  a 
retreat  when  resting  or  molting.  All  species  keep  these 
nests  quite  clean  and  some  have  interesting  little  tricks 
about  their  homes.  Scudder  notes  that  Thanaos  icelus, 
which  folds  over  part  of  a  leaf,  fastens  it  at  first  with 
long  strands  of  silk  so  that  there  is  an  "abundance  of 
space  for  air,  or,  indeed,  the  entrance  of  nearly  any 
enemy";  but,  when  the  time  comes  for  one  of  the  several 
changes  of  clothes,  the  larva  brings  the  edges  of  the  leaf 
tightly  together  and  fastens  them  securely.  IMany  species 
make  a  new  nest,  out  of  a  different  leaf,  at  each  molt,  and 
the  same  keen  observer  noted  that  Thanaos  lucilius, 
"when  it  leaves  a  nest  to  form  a  larger  one  always  first 
bites  off  the  strands  which  have  kept  the  old  flap  in  place." 

Reference  has  already  been  made  to  the  fact  that  many 
male  Lepidoptera  are  addicted  to  the  use  of  perfume. 
Among  the  Hesperiid^,  the  males  of  the  subfamily 
Hesperiinas  tend  to  have  the  scent-scales  (androconia) 
in  a  tiny  fold  along  the  front  margin  of  the  fore  wings;  in 
the  subfamily  Pamphilinae  these  scales  are  near  the  middle 
of  the  upper  surface  of  the  fore  wings  in  a  conspicuous 
patch,  which  the  Comstocks  described  as  looking  "to 
the  naked  eye  like  a  scorched  oblique  streak  or  brand." 

The  following  notes  concerning  a  few  species  (together 
with  Plate  XXXVII}  will  help  start  you  off,  if  you  wish  to 
go,  but  one  difficulty  is  that  a  given  sex  often  resembles 
the  same  sex  of  a  different  species  m.ore  closely  than  it 
does  the  opposite  sex  of  its  own  species;  furthermore,  the 
same  sex  often  has  one  or  more  varieties. 

Hesperiinae 

Epargyreus  tityrus.  The  light  marks  are  yellowish 
except  for  the  large  silver  spot  on  hind  wing.  Larva  on 
locust  (Robinia),  etc. 

143 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Eudamus  proteus.  About  the  size  of  E.  tityrus  but  each 
hind  wing  has  a  long  tail ;  greenish  on  hind  wings,  especially 
of  males.  American  tropics  to  (rarely)  New  York.  Larva 
on  Legumes. 

Achlarus  lycidas  suggests  tityrus  but  has  no  tails;  it  lias 
no  silver  spot  beneath,  but  a  white  smear  along  outer 
margin  of  hind  wings.     Larva  on  tick- trefoil  (Desmoditim) . 

Thorybes  bathyllus.  Adults  have  white  faces.  Larva 
on  bush-clover  {Lespedeza)  and  other  Legumes.  T. 
pyiades  is  much  like  bathylhis  but  the  spots  are  smaller  and 
the  face  is  brown.     Larval  food  the  same. 

Hesperia  tessellata.  Appears  to  be  a  white  butterfly 
strongly  marked  with  black.     Larva  on  Sida. 

Thanaos  juvenalis:  general  color  blackish  brown 
with  black  mottlings  and  white,  semitransparent  dots; 
larva  on  oaks  and  Legumes.  T.  brizo  is  about  the  size  of 
juvenalis;  it  lacks  the  white  dots,  has  two  distinct  rows  of 
arrow-head,  black  marks  on  each  front  wing,  and  has 
more  gray  scales.  Larva  on  oaks  and  probably  Legumes. 
T.  lucilius  is  about  half  the  size  of  these ;  it  has  minute  but 
distinct  white  dots  on  the  front  wings.  Larva  on  colum- 
bine {Aquilegia). 

Pholisora  catullus  is  much  like  T.  lucilius  but  is  blacker, 
the  white  dots  are  more  scattered,  and  it  lacks  the  mottlings 
of  Thanaos.  Larva  on  lamb's  quarters  {Chenopodium) 
and  Amarantaceas. 

Pamphilinae 

In  this  subfamily,  however  the  sexes  may  differ  above, 
they  are  much  alike  below.  Except  where  stated,  the 
light  areas,  on  the  species  mentioned  here,  are  yellowish. 

Ancyloxypha  numitor.     Larva  on  marsh  grasses. 

Erynnis  sassacus.     Larva  on  grasses. 

Catia  druryi  egeremet.  The  light  areas  are  greenish 
yellow.  Larva  on  grasses.  New  England  to  Wisconsin 
and  our  southern  border. 

Polites  coras  and  Hylephila  phylczus.      Larvae  on  grasses. 

Thymelicus  mystic  is  much  like  E.  sassacus  but  the 
"brand"  on  the  male  is  more  like  that  of  H.  phylccus; 
lower  side  of  the  hind  wings  is  more  distinctly  banded  or 

144 


Plate  XXXVII 


Th^rybes     . 
bQthi|llu5 


ThanQOsjuvenQlib 


Anculoxyphanumitor  ^ 

^  HylephilQ  ph^ltfeus 


Erynnis 
sassacus 


Atrytone  hobomoK 


Catiadruryi  egerement 


10 


145 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


spotted  than  in  sassacus.     It  is  often  caught  with  this 
species  but  is  abundant  later  in  the  season. 

A  try  tone  hobomok.  The  variety  pocahontas  is  always 
female;  the  light  markings  are  cream-color.  Larva  on 
grasses. 

Megathyminas 

Megathymus  is  a  genus  in  which  the  adults  are  stout 
bodied  and  have  a  wing  expanse  of  about  three  inches. 
Their  larvae  bore  in  the  pith  of  Yucca.  This  genus  has 
been  variously  placed  and  at  one  time  was  considered  to 
belong  with  the  moths. 

HETEROCERA 

See  p.  1 1 5  for  some  of  the  distinctive  characteristics  of 
Moths. 

Sphingid^ 

These  trim  creatures  are,  for  the  most  part,  called 
Hawk  Moths  from  their  strong  flight,  but  some  are  called 
Humming-bird  Moths.  Although  strong  of  flight,  the 
wings,  especially  the  hind  ones,  are  small  in  comparison 
with  the  body,  which  is  usually  stout  and  tapered  at  the 
hind  end.  The  larvas  are  hairless,  except  when  very 
young,  and  usually  have  a  horn  (absolutely  harmless)  at 
the  hind  end  of  the  body;  in  some  species,  especially 
when  the  larvas  are  full-grown,  this  horn  is  reduced  to  a 
tubercle  and  in  some  it  is  entirely  absent.  The  name  of  the 
family  and  its  English  translation,  "Sphinx,"  comes  from 
the  more  or  less  sphinx-like  attitude  of  the  larvce  when  at 
rest  with  their  front  segments  elevated  and  the  head 
drawn  in.  Pupation  takes  place  in  or  on  the  ground  and 
some  pupae  have  a  "handle"  which  is  really  a  sheath  for 
their  long  tongue.  As  far  as  I  know,  all  the  adults  feed 
and,  with  a  few  exceptions,  all  are  crepuscular.  When  at 
rest,  their  long  tongues  are  tightly  curled  up  imder  their 
head  like  a  watch  spring.  There  are  many  species,  but 
they  are  difficult  to  characterize  in  few  words  and  I  must 
regretfully  refer  the  reader  to  more  special  books,  such  as 
Holland's  Moth  Book,  for  the  identification  of  the  majority. 

146 


HUMMING-BIRD  SPHINX  MOTHS. 


_        .  The  adults  of  this  genus  of  Humming-bird 

Hemaris  ,  ^     ,  ,  .  ,     .       .  .,    ^     ..^  , 

Moths,  which  IS  also  called   Hamorrhagia 

and  which  belongs  to  the  subfamily  Macroglossinae, 
have  wings  from  which  part  of  the  scales  rub  off  so 
easily  that  they  are  almost  never  seen  and  those 
portions  of  the  wings  are,  therefore,  described  as  trans- 
parent. These  adults  have  the  unmothlike  habit  of 
flying  freely  in  the  bright  sunlight  and,  when  hovering  at 
flowers,  they  closely  resemble  humming-birds.  Plate 
XXXVIII  shows  the  typical  (summer)  form  of  thenortheru 
race  of  thy  she.  The  spring  form,  cimbiciformis,  differs, 
among  other  ways,  in  having  the  outer  margin  of  the  trans- 
parent areas  an  even  line.  There  are  also  two  seasonal 
forms  of  the  southern  race.  Hemaris  dijjinis  is  smaller 
than  thysbe  and  has  the  dark  areas  on  the  abdomen  black 
instead  of  reddish.  When  flying,  it  suggests  a  bumble- 
bee. The  thorax  of  Hemaris  gracilis  is  greener,  in  life, 
than  thysbe  and  has  a  pair  of  reddish,  longitudinal  lines 
on  the  under  side  of  its  thorax.  All  three  are  eastern 
species,  gracilis  being  confined  to  the  Atlantic  States 
and  usually  not  as  common  as  the  others.  Their  larvae 
feed  on  relatives  of  the  honeysuckle,  such  as  snowberry 
(Symphoricarpos)  and  Viburnum.  They  usually  pupate 
in  fallen  leaves  and  generally  make  a  poor  sort  of  a  cocoon. 
The  pupse  do  not  have  free  tongue-cases. 


Choerocampinae 

Amphion  nessus  flies  about  twilight,  and  earlier,  in 
Maj'  and  June.  It  has  a  wing-expanse  of  two  inches,  or 
more,  but  its  body  is  only  about  an  inch  long;  its  general 
color  consists  of  various  shades  of  brown ;  there  is  a  narrow, 
yellowish- white  band  across  the  abdomen;  the  hind  wings 
have  reddish  centers  and  yellowish- white  front  margins; 
the  outer  edge  of  each  front  wing  has  tvv'o  marked  indenta- 
tions. The  larva  feeds  on  grape,  Virginia  creeper,  and 
other  plants;  it  has  a  short,  rough  tail-horn,  a  brown 
body-color  with  black  and  yellow  dottings,  and  the  third 
and  fourth  segments  somewhat  enlarged.  It  pupates  in 
fallen  leaves,  usually  spinning  a  few  threads. 

147 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


SpJiecodina  ahhotii  has  a  wavy  outer  margin  of  the  front 
wings  similar  to  that  of  nessus  but,  among  other  differ- 
ences, the  basal  half  or  two-thirds  of  the  hind  wings  is 
yellow.  It  flies,  as  a  rule,  just  after  sunset.  The  larvae, 
which  feed  on  grape  and  Virginia  creeper,  have  tv/o  color 
forms,  green  and  brown;  they  have  an  eye-like  tubercle 
instead  of  an  anal  horn.  Even  more  than  most  of  their 
relatives,  they  thrash  their  tails  about.  Eliot  and  Soule 
say:  "We  have  seen  orioles  try  to  pick  up  an  ahbotii 
larva  on  our  woodbine,  and  dart  away  with  a  scream  when 
it  lifted  its  snake-like  anal  end  with  the  tubercle  shining 
like  an  eye.  The  caterpillars  make  a  squeaking  noise; 
how  they  make  it  we  do  not  know."  Other  Sphingid 
larvae  make  a  similar  noise.  The  tongue-case  is  not 
free. 

The  adults  of  this  common  Striped  Sphinx 
Deilephila  ^p^^^^  XXXVIII)  may  be  found  flying  at, 

apparently,  any  hour  of  the  day  or  night 
from  July  to  November.  Celerio  is  sometimes  used  for 
the  generic  name.  "When  full-grown  the  caterpillars  are 
three  inches  long  and  vary  greatly  in  coloring  and  mark- 
ings. There  seem  to  be  two  styles  of  dress ;  one  is  yellowish 
green  with  a  series  of  connected  spots  along  each  side  of  the 
back,  each  spot  being  colored  crimson,  yellow,  and  black ; 
the  other  dress  is  black,  with  a  yellow  line  down  the  middle 
of  the  back,  and  yellov/  spots  of  various  sizes  along  the 
sides.  These  two  styles  may  be  varied  in  many  ways" 
(Dickerson).  There  is  a  distinct  anal  horn.  Although 
it  is  sometimes  called  the  Purslane  Sphinx,  the  larvs 
feed  on  a  great  variety  of  plants  including  apple,  grape, 
Virginia  creeper,  and  ciurrant.  It  is  sometimes  injurious 
to  cultivated  plants  but  it  has  never  hurt  "pursley" 
enough  to  suit  me.  Sometimes  they  make  a  loose,  open 
cocoon  at  the  surface  of  the  ground,  but  usually  they  go 
just  below  the  surface  and  spin  no  threads.  The  tongue- 
case  is  not  free. 

Deilephila  intermedia  is  much  like  lineata  except  that  it 
has  only  two  pairs  of  dark  marks  on  its  abdomen  and  the 
veins  of  the  front  wings  are  not  marked  with  whitish.  It 
is  not  usually  common  but  it  ranges  from  Canada  to 

148 


Plate  XXXVIII 


Hemans 
thysbe 


Deilephila 

"neatQ 


Ampelophagus  myron 


Pholus  pandorus 


THE  HOG  SPHINX. 


Mexico,  and  a  nearly  related  species  is  found  in  the  Eastern 
Hemisphere.  The  larva  feeds  on  grape,  Epilobium,  and 
other  plants. 

This  (Plate  XXXVIII)  may  be  but  a  form 
Pholus  q£  satellitia.     It  flies  at   dusk,   and  later, 

from  June  to  November.  The  larva,  which 
feeds  on  grape  and  Virginia  creeper,  is  green,  when  yoimg, 
and  has  a  long  horn,  which  often  curls  over  its  back; 
but  the  full-grown  larvas  are  tailless  and  usually  brown. 
The  pupa,  with  adhering  tongue-case,  is  usually  formed 
onderground.  It  is  a  widely  distributed  species  with 
several  local  races. 

Pholus  achemon  has  a  brown  general  color,  the  basal 
three-fourths  of  the  hind  wings  are  pink,  and  the  dark 
markings  on  the  hind  margin  of  each  front  wing  are  re- 
duced to  a  rectangular  spot  near  the  middle  and  a  smaller, 
triangular  spot  near  the  outer  end.  Larv'al  and  pupal 
habits  like  those  of  pandorus. 

For  some  reason,  or  none,  this  species 
Ampelophagus     j^  ^^^^^^   jj^g    Sphinx.     Plate    XXXVIII 

shows  a  larva  bearing  on  its  back  the  co- 
coons of  an  Ichneimionid  whose  larvae  had  been  feeding 
on  the  tissues  of  the  moth's  larvas.  Such  cocoons  may  be 
found  on  many  kinds  of  caterpillars  but  this  species  is 
much  afflicted  by  the  parasites.  The  principal  food 
plants  of  myron  are  grape  and  Virginia  creeper.  A  cocoon 
is  made  among  fallen  leaves. 

A.  pholus  is  much  like  myron  but  the  front  wings  are 
brownish.  Its  larva  feeds  on  Virhunum  and  Azalea. 
There  are  two  annual  broods. 

A .  versicolor  differs  from  myron  in  having  a  white  median- 
dorsal  line  and,  on  the  thorax,  a  pair  of  white  side  lines, 
white  markings  on  the  green  front  wings  and  a  broad, 
whitish  hind-margin  of  the  hind  \\ings.  The  larvae  feed 
on  Hydrangea,  Decodon,  and  buttonball  {Cephalanthus) . 


149 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Sphinginae 


A  name  commonly  used  for  this  genus  is 
Phlegethontius  p^otoparce;  Carolina  (Plate  XXXIX)  was 
celeus  called  sexta  because  of  the  six  orange-yellow 

spots  on  each  side  of  the  adult's  abdomen, 
and  celeus  was  called  quinque-maculatus  because  it  has 
five  such  spots.  The  general  color  of  the  adult  Carolina  is 
grayish  brown;  celeus  is  much  lighter  and,  among  other 
differences,  the  dark  lines  corresponding  to  the  two  outer 
ones  on  the  hind  wings  of  Carolina  are  fused  to  form  a 
band  and  the  three  inner  lines  are  distinctly  zigzagged. 
The  mature  larva  of  celeus  may  be  distinguished  from 
that  of  Carolina  by  the  fact  that  the  lower  ends  of  the  hght 
markings  on  the  side  of  the  abdomen  curve  backward 
below  the  spiracles  (breathing  holes).  In  the  South 
the  pupae  are  sometimes  called  "  hornblowers  "  because  the 
free  tongue-case  suggests  a  wind  instrument.  The  larvae 
are  called  Tobacco  Worms  or  Tomato  Worms,  according 
to  the  crop  on  which  they  are  found.  They  also  eat  the 
leaves  of  potato  and  other  Solanaceae. 

Smerinthinse 

The  Modest  Sphinx  is  not  usually  com- 
Pachysphinx  ^^^^  |^^^^  when  seen,  always  attracts  atten- 
tion. The  shaded  portions  of  the  wings 
(Plate  XXXIX)  are  brown,  tinged,  on  the  hind  wings, 
with  pink;  the  dark  spot  near  the  angle  of  each  hind  wing  is 
purplish  black.  A  western  form,  occidentalis,  has  whitish 
front  wings  and  largely  pink  hind  wings.  The  larvae  feed 
on  poplars  and  willows,  pupating  in  the  ground.  Some 
authors  place  this  species  in  the  Oriental  genus  Marumha. 

Holland  explains  the  scientific  name  of 
Sphinx      ^  ^^g  Twin-spot  Sphinx  as  follows:     "This 

gemlrmtur^  beautiful  hawk  moth  was  originally  named 
and  described  in  error  by  Drury  as  coming 
from  the  Island  of  Jamaica.  He  also  was  so  unfortunate 
as  to  have  had  for  his  type  an  aberrant  specimen  in  which 
the  ocellus  of  the  hind  wing  had  but  one  blue  spot.     Such 

150 


Plate  XXXIX 


Phlegethontius  Carolina 


Pachijsphinx 
modesta 


Sphinx 

qeminatus    >« 


151 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


specimens  now  and  then  occur,  and  have  been  obtained  by 
breeding  from  the  normal  form,  to  which  Say  gave  the 
name  geminatus.  Specimens  also  sometimes  occur  in 
which  there  are  three  blue  spots  in  the  ocellus,  and  Mr. 
Grote  gave  to  this  aberrant  form  the  name  tripariitus." 
The  groimd-color  of  the  wings  is  light  gray  but  the  eye- 
spots  (Plate  XXXIX)  are  set  in  a  pink  area;  the  thorax 
and  front  wings  are  marked  with  rich  brown.  The  larva; 
are  bluish  green  with  yellowish  white  lines  and  granules; 
the  horn  is  usually  blue  but  sometimes  greenish  or  even 
pink.  They  feed  on  willows,  poplars,  birches,  and  wild 
cherry.  The  tongue-case  of  the  pupa  is  not  free.  Adults 
fly  from  May  to  August. 

Sphinx  cerisyi  has  a  wing-expanse  of  about  four  inches 
and  the  single  ocellus  on  each  hind  wing  consists  of  a 
dark  spot  surrounded  by,  first,  a  light  ring  and,  then,  a 
dark  one.     Its  larva  feeds  on  willow. 

/  Adults  of  Calasymholus  (also  called  Paanis)  have,  on 
each  hind  wing,  a  light  dot  surrounded  by  a  dark  ring. 
The  size  and  outline  of  the  wings  of  C.  myops  are  almost 
exactly  those  of  S.  geininafus  but  the  general  color  of  the 
front  wings  is  brown  and  the  eye-spots  of  the  hind  wings 
are  set  in  a  yellow  area.  Larvae  on  wild  and  cultivated 
cherry.  C.  astylus  is  about  like  myops  in  size  and  general 
color  but  the  outline  of  the  wings  is  more  even  and  the 
front  wings  have  a  white  streak  parallel  to  their  outer 
margins.  Larvae  on  huckleberry  and  dangleberry.  C. 
exccBcattis  is  somewhat  larger  than  geminatus  and  it  has  a 
similar  pinkish  area  on  the  hind  wings  but  the  general 
color  is  browner  and  the  outer  margins  of  the  front  wings 
are  saw-toothed,  six  or  eight  teeth  to  each.  Larvae  on 
Rosaceae  and  a  large  number  of  other  trees. 

Sphingid  larvae  are  so  easily  recognized  as  being  Sphin- 
gids  that  the  following  additional  notes  may  be  helpful  but 
it  should  be  said  that  larvae  often  eat  other  sorts  of  leaves 
also.  Larvae  of  Theretra  {Cheer ocampa)  tersa  feed  on 
Bouvardia  and  buttonwood.  Dilophonota  ello,  on  Euphor- 
bia. Phlegetho7itius  {Protoparce)  rustica  on  Chionanthus 
and    Jasminium;   P.    cingidata,    on    morning-glory    and 

152 


THE  GIANT  SILK=WORM  MOTHS. 


sweet-potato.  Hyloicus  (Sphinx)  kalmicB,  on  laurel,  lilac, 
ash,  and  Chionanthus;  H.  drupiferartim,  on  plum  and  wild 
cherry;  H.  gordius,  on  huckleberry,  bayberry,  and  birch; 
//.  luscitiosa,  on  willow;  H.  chcrsiSy  on  lilac  and  ash;  H. 
eremitus,  on  pepper,  wild  bergamot,  and  Salvia;  H.  plc- 
heius,  on  trumpet  vine  and  Passiflora.  Dolba  hylcEtis 
larvae  are  said  to  complete  their  growth  in  twenty  days  on 
black  alder  and  sweet  fern.  ChlcBnogramma  jasminearum, 
on  ash.  Larvae  of  Cerato^nia  amyntor  have  four  short 
thoracic  horns  in  addition  to  the  anal  one  and  feed  chiefly 
on  elm;  the  black  and  yellow  larvae  of  C.  catalpcz  feed  on 
Catalpa.  Lapara  bombycoides  and  coniferarum,  on  pines_ 
Cressonia  juglandis,  on  hickory,  walnut,  ironwood,  and 
wild  cherry. 

Saturniid^e 

These  Giant  Silk- worm  A'loths  are  the  amateur's  delight 
because  of  their  large  size,  beautiful  colors,  and  often 
conspicuous  cocoons.  The  antennae  of  the  males  arc 
feathered  to  their  tips  and  are  always  larger  than  those 
of  the  female;  the  mouth-parts  of  the  adults  are  poorly 
developed  and  apparently  functionless  but  the  huge 
larvce  are  certainly  hearty  feeders  and,  fortunately,  have 
many  enemies;  whoever  tries  to  raise  Satumid  adults 
from  wild  cocoons  is  almost  sure  to  get  more  parasites 
than  moths. 

The  Asiatic  Ailanthus  Silk-moth   (Plate 
Philosamia  -j^l)  was  brought  to  America  about  1861, 

presiimably  m  the  hope  that  silk  irom  its 
cocoon  might  be  used  commercially.  That  hope  has  not 
yet  been  realized  and  the  larvae  occasional!}^  occur  in  large 
enough  numbers  to  be  injurious  to  ailanthus  trees — their 
original  and  favorite  leaf,  although  they  also  feed  upon 
wild  cherry,  linden,  sycamore,  lilac,  and  other  plants. 
The  full-grown  larva  is  green  with  black  dots;  the  tubercles 
are  pale  to  quite  blue  except  that  those  of  the  lowest 
(substigmatal)  row  are  banded  with  black;  the  head, 
legs,  props,  and  anal  shield  are  3'ellow  except  for  blue 
markings  on  the  last  two;  spiracles  (or  "stigmata,"  the 
row  of  breathing  holes    along  the  sides)  are  black  viith  a 

153 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


white  dot  at  each  end.  The  larvae  eat  their  cast  skins. 
The  cocoon  is  spun  on  a  leaf  which  has  first  been  fastened 
to  the  branch  with  silk,  the  pupa  hibernating.  Hanging 
cocoons  like  this  are  hard  for  birds  to  peck.  The  adults 
may  be  recognized  by  the  white  tufts  on  their  abdomen. 
Distributed  locally  (especially  near  cities)  along  the 
Atlantic    Coast. 

Rothschildia,  with  two  species,  orizaba  and  jorulla,  in 
Arizona,  may  be  recognized  by  the  triangular  shape  of 
the  translucent  spots  of  the  fore  and  hind  wings. 

The     Saturnids     are     indeed     fortunate 

^™'*.  moths;  they  have  largely  escaped  success- 

cecropia  o    j  t- 

ful  "English"  christenings.  Although  this 
species  (Plate  XLI)  was  named  cecropia  by  Linnasus  long 
ago  and  has  been  a  common  and  popular  moth  in  this  coun- 
try ever  since  moths  were  at  all  popular,  Cecropia  is  still 
its  common  name.  I  hope  my  children's  children  will  call 
it  Cecropia  even  though  it  has  been  recently  nicknamed 
something  else  by  a  lady  who  writes  very  good  fiction  but 
who  has  done  immeasurable  harm  to  unalloyed  love  of 
nature  by  encouraging  the  commercial  viewpoint.  People 
forget  that  the  Limberlost  stories  are  fiction,  and  my 
mail  has  been  filled  with  letters  from  people,  ranging  all  the 
way  from  an  eight-year-old  boy,  who  wanted  to  sell  a  bat- 
tered Luna  so  that  he  could  get  a  pony,  to  invalids,  who 
wished  to  find  a  market  for  the  moths  which  came  to  their 
bedside  lamps  so  that  they  might  buy  medicine.  Permit 
me  to  say  that  he  who  goes  to  Nature  with  money  in  his 
eyes  will  not  only  be  blind  to  her  truths,  her  glories,  and 
the  real  benefits  which  she  offers  to  those  who  love  her, 
but  he  will  be  disappointed  as  to  his  financial  returns. 
The  "market"  value  of  even  our  rare  insects  is  so  small 
that,  unless  you  have  the  requisite  knowledge  and  can 
give  your  entire  time  to  collecting,  classifying  the  spoils, 
and  finding  the  particular  markets  for  the  particular  sorts, 
you  xAW  not  usually  be  paid  for  shoe-leather.  But  to. 
return  to  more  pleasant  things:  Cecropia's  head,  body, 
and  bases  of  the  fore  wings  are  a  rich  red  except  for  the 
white  bands;  the  general  wing-color  is  dusky^  reddish  brown; 

154 


Plate  XL 


PhilosQmiQ  cynlhiQ 


155 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


the  crescents  on  the  wings  vary  from  white  (especially  on 
the  hind  wings)  to  reddish  and  are  bordered  with  red  and 
black ;  outside  the  prominent  white  band  there  is  a  reddish 
band  (in  S.  gloveri  of  the  West  this  band  is  broader  and 
purplish  gray  although  inside  of  the  white  band  the  wings 
are  red);  the  outer  border  of  both  pairs  of  wings  is  light 
clay-brown.  S.  Columbia  occurs  in  northern  United 
States  (west  to  Wisconsin)  and  in  Canada ;  it  has  a  wing 
expanse  of  only  about  four  inches  and  no  red  margin  to 
the  white  cross  band.  S.  rubra  of  Utah  and  Wyoming 
westward  is  about  the  size  of  Columbia  but  the  general  wing 
color  is  rather  uniformly  light  red ;  it  lacks,  as  does  also 
gloveri,  the  round  dark  areas  near  the  hind  angles  of  the 
fore  wings.  The  larva  of  cecropia  is  about  four  inches  long ; 
green  with  bluish  tints,  especially  along  the  back,  two 
rows  of  blue  tubercles  along  each  side,  two  rows  of  yellow 
ones  along  the  back,  and  two  pairs  of  red  ones  on  the 
thorax.  The  large  cocoons,  which  when  cut  open  have 
distinctly  the  appearance  on  one  cocoon  inside  another, 
are  fastened  to  a  branch,  or  other  support,  but  not  to 
leaves.  Some  cocoons  are  much  larger  and  puffier  than 
others,  probably  because  the  larv'ae  which  made  them  were 
better  fed.  This  species  ranges  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Great  Plains. 

I  am  sorry  that  such  an  authority  as 

Callosamia  Holland   should    have   called   this   species 

promethea. 

(Plate    XLII)    the    Spice-bush    Silk-moth 

when  "Promethea"  was  already  in  common  usage;  further- 
more he  says,  trul}'',  that  "The  insects  subsist  in  the  larval 
stage  upon  a  great  variety  of  deciduous  shrubs  and  trees, 
showing  a  special  predilection  for  Lauracece,  Liriodendron, 
Liqtiidambar ,  and  wild-cherry"  (spice-bush  and  sassafras 
belong  to  the  family  Lauraceae).  The  mature  larva  is 
from  two  to  three  inches  long;  head,  yellowish-green; 
body,  ' '  frosted ' '  bluish-green ;  six  rows  of  small  black  tuber- 
cles; two  pairs  of  red  tubercles  on  the  thorax;  one  yellow 
tubercle  on  the  eleventh  segment;  the  legs  and  the  anal 
shield  yellow.  The  cocoon  is  much  like  that  of  cynthia 
but  tends  to  be  darker  and  sUmmer  and  is  not  so  likely  to 
have  silk  strands  over  the  leaf.     The  general  color  of  the 

156 


Plate  XLI 


Samla  cecropia 


157 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS, 


male's  wings  is  such  a  dark  maroon  that  it  is  sometimes 
practically  black  and  all  but  the  marginal  markings  are 
obscured ;  the  female  is  much  lighter  colored. 

Both  sexes  of  C.  angulifera  have  a  fat,  V-shaped,  white 
mark,  something  like  that  on  the  hind  wings  of  the  female 
promethea,  on  the  front  wings,  and  the  female  has  it  on  the 
hind  wings  also.  Its  larva  feeds  chiefly  on  the  tulip-tree 
{Liriodendron) .  The  cocoon  is  wrapped  in  leaves  like 
Promethea 's  but  with  the  difference  that  usually  no  "  stem  " 
fastening  it  to  the  twig  is  made  so  that  the  cocoon  falls 
to  the  ground  when  the  tree  sheds  its  leaves.  It  is  an 
Atlantic  Coast  species  which  is  usually  not  common  even 
in  the  Middle  States,  its  principal  home. 

The  Satumid  moths  thus  far  mentioned  belong  to  the 
subfamily  Attacinae.     We  now  take  up  the  Saturniinae. 

Actias  luna  '^^^  Luna  Moth  (Plate  XLIII)  is  rather 

generally  considered  to  be  our  most  beautiful 
insect  but  its  lovely  green  fades  rapidly  to  a  light  gray. 
It  is  rather  common  and,  once  seen,  is  rarely  forgotten. 
The  larva  feeds  on  walnut,  hickory,  sweet-gum  (Liquid- 
ambar),  persimmon,  and  other  trees;  when  mature,  it 
is  about  three  inches  long;  it  varies  somewhat  in  its 
colors,  especially  those  of  the  tubercles;  and  suggests 
the  larva  of  polyphemus  but  may  be  distinguished  from  it 
by  the  yellow  lateral  line  and  the  absence  of  the  seven 
oblique  side-stripes;  when  about  to  pupate,  the  back 
usually  changes  from  yellowish  green  to  pinkish.  The 
cocoon  is  very  thin  and  rattles  when  pressed  or  when  the 
pupa  moves;  it  is  usually  made  between  leaves  on  the 
ground.  In  some  sections  it  is  at  least  double-brooded. 
'^he  early-spring  adults  usually  have  purple  outer  margins 
on  the  wings;  later  individuals  lack  these. 

Larvae  of  Polyphemus  (Plate  XLIV)  are 

sent   in   to   the   American   Museum   every 

season   so   that   they   must   be   frequently 

seen  by  the  "laity"  even  though  they  are  the  color  of 

leaves.     They  feed  on  oak,  birch,  and  a  great  variety  of 

other  trees,  and  somewhat  resemble  those  of  luna.     More 

158 


Plate  XLII 


CallosQiTiiQ  prometheQ 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


than  their  relatives,  polyphemus  larvae  have  the  habit  of 
elevating  the  front  part  of  their  bodies  and  pulling  in  their 
heads  to  assume  a  "terrifying  attitude";  clicking  their 
jaws  probably  adds  to  the  effect.  Many  books  say 
that  the  cocoon  falls  to  the  ground  in  the  autumn  (there 
is  but  one  annual  generation)  but  this  is  by  no  means 
always  the  case.  The  cocoon,  which  is  more  solid  than 
Luna's,  contains  a  long,  unbroken,  easily  unreeled  thread 
of  silk  which  would  be  commercially  valuable  if  labor  were 
cheaper.  The  wings  are  ochre,  usually  pinkish,  and 
each  has  a  transparent  spot,  those  on  the  hind  wings  being 
bordered  inwardly  by  blue  and  set  in  a  black  ring. 

.    .  The  larvae  of  the  lo  Moth  (Plate  XLV) 

should  be  handled  carefully  since  their 
spines  are  sharp  and  are  connected  with  glands  which 
secrete  an  irritating  fluid.  They  feed  on  a  great  vari- 
ety of  plants,  including  corn,  and,  when  young,  "fol- 
low the  leader, "  spinning  a  silken  path  for  the  guidance 
of  those  which  are  behind.  The  larva  is  easily  recognized, 
especially  on  account  of  the  red  (upper)  and  white  (lower) 
longitudinal  stripes  on  the  sides  of  the  abdomen.  The 
thin,  semitransparent,  brown  cocoon  is  spun  among  leaves 
on  the  ground.  There  are  several  other  species  which 
may  be  recognized  as  Automeris  from  their  general  resem- 
blance to  io;  another  generic  name  is  Hyperchiria. 

Ceratocampid^e 

The  adults  have  mouth  parts  but  probably  do  not 
feed.  Pupation  occurs  in  the  ground,  no  cocoons  being 
formed.     Perhaps  we  should  call  this  family  Citheronidse. 

The  black  and  yellow  (or  orange)  larvae 
of  Anisota  senatoria  (Plate  XLVIII)  feed 
on  oak,  often  in  large  colonies.  The  adult  female  has  a 
yellow  body  and  brownish-yellow  wings,  largely  free  from 
dark  dots  and  with  a  tendency  toward  violet  at  the  mar- 
gins of  the  front  wings.  The  male  is  reddish  brown  and 
the  central  halves  of  the  front  wings  are  slightly  translu- 
cent.    The  larva  of  A .  virginiensis,  on  oak,  is  dark  greenish, 

1 60 


Plate  XLIII 


^ 


/ 


Actios  lunQ 


Plate  XLIV 


TeUQ  polyphemus 

i6i 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


with  two  purplish  red  stripes  and  three  rows  of  black  spines 
on  each  side;  it  is  covered  with  white  granules  and  has 
a  pair  of  long,  black  "lashes"  on  the  second  segment. 
The  adult  female  is  much  like  the  female  senatoria  but  is 
more  thinly  scaled  and  with  a  definite  violet  band  along  the 
outer  margin  of  each  front  wing.    The  male  (Plate  XLVIII) 
is  like  the  male  senatoria  but  darker  and  the  central  areas 
of  the  front  wings  are  transparent,  with  definite  boundaries. 
The  larva  of  A.  stigma,  on  oak,  chestnut,  and  hazel,  is 
brown,  dotted  with  white;  it  has  a  very  narrow,  dusky, 
mid-dorsal  line  and  a  wider  one  on  each  side  along  the 
spiracles;  body  spines  longer  than  in  the  other  species. 
The  adult  female  is  much  like  the  femxale  senatoria  but  with 
about  half  an  inch  greater  wing  expanse,  is  more  heavily 
scaled,  and  with  a  tendency  to  have  the  front  wings,  at 
least,  thickly  dotted  with  black.     The  male  is  much  like 
its  own  female,  but  smaller  and  with  a  tendency  to  violet 
along  the  outer  margins  of  the  front  wings;  the  wings  have 
no  translucent  areas.     The  chrysalids  are  all  much  alike. 

The  Rosy  Maple-moth  (Plate  XLV)  is 
Dryocampa  sometimes,  probably  correctly,  put  in  the 
rubicunda  ^^^^^  Anisota.     Its  larva  feeds  on  maple. 

The  pupa  is  somewhat  shiny;  and  the  adult,  though  vari- 
able in  color,  may  be  known  by  being  a  fluffy  combination 
of  rose  color  and  pale-yellow,  often  tinged  with  pink.  It  is 
most  abundant  in  the  Middle  West  but  it  is  occasionally 
injurious  from  Mississippi  to  New  York. 

Names  applied  to  the  adult  and  larva 
Citheronia  respectively.  Royal  Walnpt-moth  and  Hick- 

'egalis  Qjy   Homed   Devil,   tell   two   of   the   food 

plants  of  this  species  (Plate  XLVI);  there  are  a  variety  of 
others,  including  butternut,  ash,  persimmon,  sweet  gum, 
and  sumac.  The  horns  of  the  mature  larva  are  reddish, 
tipped  with  black,  and  are  perfectly  harmless.  Perhaps 
the  best  short  description  of  the  adults  is  by  Kellogg: 
"a  rich  brown  ground-color  on  body  and  hind  wings,  with 
the  fore  wings  slaty  gray  with  yellow  blotches,  and  veins 
broadly  marked  out  in  red-brown." 

162 


Plate  XLV 


VarvQ 


Automens   lo 


^ 


DryocQmpQ  rubicunda 


Plate  XLVI 


Citheron'iQ  reqalis 


163 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


The  Pine-devil  {Cither onia  sepulchralis) ,  which  is  said 
to  range  along  the  coast  from  Maine  to  Florida  but  which 
has  never  been  reported  from  New  Jersey,  for  example,  is 
somewhat  smaller  than  re  galls  and  has  uniformly  brown 
wings. 

The  hairy  larvae  of  the  Imperial  Tvloth 
^sUona  (pi^^g  XLVII)  vary  from  green  to  very  dark 

brown;  their  horns  are  proportionately 
larger  in  the  younger  stages.  The  female  is  rich  canary- 
yellow  marked  with  pinkish  purple ;  the  male  has  the  same 
colors  but  the  purple  is  darker  and  covers  most  of  the  fore 
wing.  Food  plants:  a  great  variety  of  trees  including 
hickor}%  oak,  elm,  maple,  spruce,  pine,  junipers,  and 
hemlock.     Another  generic  name  is  Eacles. 


Amattdje 

These  largely  southern  moths  are  day-flyers  and  some 
of  them  much  resemble  H3-menoptera.  The  proboscis  is 
asually,  but  not  always,  well  developed  so  that  they  may 
feed.  The  family  has  also  been  called  Syntomidae,  The 
cocoons  are  of  felted  hair. 

Lycomorpha  pliolus  (Plate  XLVIII)  may  be  recognized 
by  the  black  and  yellow  markings.  Its  larva  is  said  to 
feed  on  lichens.  The  adult  is  common  on  flowers  and  is 
found  throughout  the  United  States. 

Scepsis  fulvicollis  (Plate  XLVIII):  the  wings  are 
brown,  except  for  the  transparent  central  part  of  the  hind 
wings;  the  abdomen  is  metallic  blue-black;  and  there  is  a 
yellow  collar.  The  larvae  feed  on  grasses,  and  the  adults 
frequent  golden-rod  flowers. 

Ctenucha  virginica:  the  adult,  which  has  brown  wings, 
metallic  bluish-black  body,  and  orange  head,  is  found  at 
the  flowers  of  blackberries.  Spiraea,  and  other  plants  in  the 
Appalachian  region.     The  larva  feeds  on  grasses. 

164 


Plate  XLVII 


BQsilonQ  imperialis 
165 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


L1THOSIID2E 


The  larv£e  of  this  family  are  hairy,  somewhat  after  the 
fashion  of  the  Arctiidae.  Cocoons,  of  silk  and  larval  hairs, 
are  made  by  some  species  but  others  are  said  to  have 
naked  pupse.  The  adults  have  thread-like  antennae  and, 
usually,  well-developed  mouth  parts;  they  are  popularly 
called  Footman  l^Ioths. 

Hypoprepia  fucosa  (Plate  XLVIII)  has  three  lead- 
colored  stripes  on  the  fore  wings,  the  ground  color  being 
yellow  and  red.  H.  miniata  is  very  much  like  it  but  the 
dark  markings  are  darker,  and  the  light  portions  are  bright 
scarlet.     The  larvae  of  both  feed  on  lichens. 

Arctiidae 

Topsell,  in  his  History  of  Serpents  (1608),  said  the  larvae 
of  these  moths  were  called  Palmer-worms,  by  reason  of 
their  wandering  and  roguish  life,  although  by  reason  of 
their  roughness  and  ruggedness  some  call  them  Beare- 
wormes  (modem:  Woolly  Bears).  Keats  referred  to  the 
adults  when  he  wrote : 

"All  diamonded  with  panes  of  quaint  device, 
Innumerable  of  stains,  and  splendid  dyes, 
As  are  the  Tiger  Moth's  deep  damask  wings." 

There  are  more  than  2000  species.  The  larvae  are  hairy, 
usually  very  much  so.  The  cocoons  are  made  of  silk  and 
larval  hairs.  The  adults  of  some  genera  have  aborted 
mouth  parts;  others  have  well-developed  probosces. 

The  color  and  markings  of  the  Beautiful 
Utetheisa  Utetheisa  (Plate  XLIX)  vary  greatly  but 

^^^*  there   is   nothing   in   its  range  (Quebec  to 

Mexico  and  Antilles)  which  closely  resembles  it,  except  the 
southern  U.  ornatrix  which  has  "washed-out"  front  wings. 
Although  the  adult  sometimes  comes  to  lights,  it  is  easily 
flushed,  in  the  daytime,  by  walking  through  the  meadows 
in  which  its  food  plants  grow.  The  larva  is  recorded  as 
feeding  on  cherry,  elm,  and  other  plants,  but  I  have  found 
it  only  on  and  in  the  green  seed-pods  of  Crotalaria  (Rattle- 
box)  and  doubt  if  it  feeds  on  anything  but  Legumes. 

166 


Plate  XLVIII 


AnisotQ  senatoriQ 


A.virginiensis 


LycomorphQ 
pholus 


Scepsis 

{ulvicollis 


HypoprepiQ 
fucosa 


167 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Nature  seems  to  make  the  Haploas,  and 
Baploa  other  Arctids,  by  guess,  they  are  so  variable. 

Plate  XLIX  shows  one  of  the  more  constant  species,  H. 
■clymene.  Species  of  this  genus  tend  to  have  a  dark  band, 
more  or  less  complete,  running  from  the  hind  margin 
of  each  front  wing  to  near  its  apex;  these  wings  are  often 
margined  with  dark  color  also  but  in  some  forms  they  are 
immaculate.  The  larvae  are  classed  as  "general  feeders" 
but  more  careful  study  will  doubtless  discover  decided 
preferences. 

Plate  XLIX  shows  the  female;  the  male 
Estigmene  j^^  yellow  hind  wings.     The  spotting  varies 

**^'**  greatly  in  both  sexes,  and  there  are  a  number 

of  local  races.  The  name,  Salt-marsh  Caterpillar,  is  mis- 
leading; as  a  matter  of  fact,  the  species  is  found  throughout 
North  Araerica,  the  larva  being  a  general  feeder. 

The  unsightly  nests,  made  in  late  summer, 
Hyphantria  ^  ^^ie  Fall  Web-womi  are  frequently  con- 
"^""^^  fused  with  the  spring  tents  of  Malacosoma 

americami.  The  nest  of  cunea  has  a  lighter  texture  and 
covers  all  the  leaves  upon  which  the  colony  of  larvae  are 
feeding;  it  occurs  on  more  than  a  hundred  different  kinds 
of  trees,  apple  and  ash  being  among  the  favorites.  The 
figures  on  Plate  L  indicate  the  great  variability  which 
exists  in  the  markings  of  both  larvae  and  adults.  The 
pupa,  slightly  protected  by  a  loose  cocoon,  hibernates 
in  crevices  of  bark,  loose  soil,  etc.  The  eggs  are  laid  in 
flat  masses  on  the  under  side  of  leaves. 

The  larva  of  this  species  (Plate  XLIX) 
Isia  isabeUa  j^g  caused  much  comment:  Kellogg  calls 
it  "the  woolliest  woolly  bear,"  and  notes  that  "hedge- 
hog" is  a  popular  name;  Holland  connects  the  phrase 
"to  caterpillar/*  in  the  sense  of  quickly  yielding  to 
unpleasant  circumstances,  with  this  species  because,  when 
disturbed,  the  lar\^a  curls  up  and  lies  motionless  (a 
trick  of  the  hedgehog,  also);  while  Comstock  recalls  the 
"Hurrj^ng  along  like  a  caterpillar  in  the  fall"  when  speak- 
ing of  the  larva's  apparent  haste  to  find  a  snug  place  in 

i68 


Plate  XLIX 


HaploQ  clymene 


UtetheisQ  beliQ 


•  •  • 

»  V  # 


hla  Isabella 


r^» 


Estiqmene   Qcroea 


"^.  .^ 


Di  QcrisiQ 

virginlcQ 


Apaniesis. 


Euchaetlas  egle 


WOOLLY  BEARS. 


which  to  curl  up  for  the  winter.  When  spring  comes,  it 
hustles  for  a  little  food,  plantain  being  a  favorite,  and  then 
pupates  in  a  cocoon  made  of  sillc  and  larval  hairs.  The 
relative  amount  of  black  in  the  larva's  "fur"  varies  greatly 
and  is  said  to  foretell  weather  but  I  forget  what  is  what, 
although  some  experiments  which  I  once  made  indicated 
that  past,  not  future,  moist  conditions  increase  the  amount 
of  black.     There  are  twd  annual  broods. 

Diacrisia  (also  called  Spilosoma)  virginica  is  the  Yellow- 
bear  of  our  gardens;  the  dense,  long  hair  of  some  in- 
dividuals is,  however,  white  and  of  others  is  reddish.  The 
adults  (Plate  XLIX)  have  up  to  four  small  black  dots  on 
each  of  their  white  wings.  One  of  the  several  broods 
hibernates  in  the  pupal  state. 

Apantesis:  There  are  twenty  or  more  species  in  the 
United  States  alone.  It  is  rather  characteristic  of  the 
genus  that  the  front  wings  are  checkered  somewhat  after 
the  fashion  of  the  species,  nais,  shown  in  Plate  XLIX; 
the  prevailing  colors  are  red,  brown,  and  white.  The 
larvae  are  general  feeders,  especially  on  low-growing  things, 
such  as  plantain. 

Numbers   of   the   gay   Harlequin   cater- 
Euchstias  p.^j^j.g  ^pj^^g  XLIX)  are  frequently  seen  on 

milkweed,  feeding  together  in  apparent 
disregard  of  birds.  Alost  birds  do  not  seem  to  care  for 
hairy  larvs  at  any  rate,  but  probably  this  species  gets 
additional  protection,  advertised  by  its  colors,  from  the 
acrid  nature  of  its  food.  The  cocoon  is  formed  under 
loose  stones  and  leaves.  One  brood  of  adults  flies  in  June, 
another  in  late  summer.  It  and  the  foUov/ing  species  are 
given,  by  some  authors,  the  generic  name  Cycnia. 

PareuchcEtes  (or  Ammalo)  eglenensis  also  feeds  on  milk- 
weed. The  predominating  color  of  the  larval  hairs  is 
dark  gray;  its  head  is  orange,  while  that  of  egle  is  black. 
The  adult  resembles  egle  but  is  somewhat  smaller  and  has 
the  front  margin  of  the  front  wings,  the  head,  and  the 
collar,  orange.  There  is  a  summer  form  {inopinatus)  in 
which  the  gray  portions  are  almost  white. 

169 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


"The    Hickory    Tiger"    is    one    of    the 
Halisidota  English   names   of   this   species    (Plate   L) 

and,  like  the  specific  name,  refers  to  the 
larva's  fondness  for  hickory  leaves  but,  as  a  matter  of 
fact,  it  feeds  on  other  trees  also.  It  has  also  been  called 
Tussock  Moth,  but  that  name  should  be  reserved  for  a 
species  of  Liparid^  whose  larvae  these  resemble.  The 
cocoon,  which  is  made  in  some  sheltered  nook,  is  composed 
of  larval  hairs  pushed  through  a  very  thin  envelope  of  silk. 
The  author  of  Insect  Lives;  or  Born  in  Prison  quaintly 
describes  the  color  of  the  moths  as  being  the  same  as  that 
of  hickory-nut  meat. 

Halisidota  tessellaris  is  much  like  caryce  but  the  larva  has 
no  "black  buttons  down  the  back"  and  its  body  hairs  are 
usually  tinged  with  yellow  or  brownish ;  the  adult  tessellaris 
is  much  paler,  being  pale  straw-color,  and  has  bluish- 
green  lines  on  the  thorax.  The  larva  is  sometimes  too 
common  in  our  gardens  and  on  shade  trees.  That  descrip- 
tion of  the  adult  also  fits  the  southern  cinctipes,  which  is 
larger  and  has  the  lower  part  of  its  legs  gartered  with 
black.  The  western  argentata  has  the  white  spots  silvery 
and  the  ground  color  of  the  front  wings  dark  brown.  The 
adult  of  the  northern  maculata  might  be  loosely  described 
as  like  caryce  except  that  the  white  spots  are  dark  spots. 

AGARISTID.E 

Members  of  the  genus  Alypia  are  called 

Alypia  Foresters:    translating    the    specific    name, 

octomaculata  ,  .  .        ,^.  t  \    •  ■,■,    ^     t       t^-   ^ 

this  species  (Plate  L)  is  called  the  J:!.ight- 

spotted  Forester.     Its  larva,  which  feeds  on  the  leaves  of 

grapes  and  of  the   Virginia   creeper,   is  orange,   yellow^ 

black,  and  white;  it  has  a  hump  near  its  tail.     Pupation 

occurs  in  a  very  thin  cocoon  of  chips  and  silk  at,  or  slightly 

below,  the  surface  of  the  ground;  or  the  larva  may  gnaw 

into  wood  to  pupate.     The  velvety-black  adult  has  yellow 

spots  on  the  front  wings,  white  on  the  hind.     It  frequently 

flies  by  day.     Although  the  Eight-spot  is  confined  to  the 

northeastern  quarter  of  the  United  States,  other  sections 

have  similar  species. 


170 


Plate  L 


HyphontriQ  cunea 


» 


HalisidolQ  caryoe 


V,  \f'-V., 


AlypiQ  oclomQculatQ 
171 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS, 


NOCTUID.E 


We  have  about  2000  species  of  this  family  in  the  United 
States.  "Quite  two  thousand  too  many,"  most  farmers 
and  gardeners  would  say,  because  Cut-worms  are  young 
Noctuids;  but  not  all  young  Noctuids  are  cut-wonns. 
Noctua  is  the  Latin  for  "owl";  these  moths  fly  by  night, 
and  some  have  shiny  eyes ;  we  sometimes  call  them  Owlet- 
moths.  They  come  abundantly  to  lights  and  some  species 
crowd  "sugar  bait,"  sipping  the  sweets.  Like  the  adults, 
the  larvae,  as  a  rule,  feed  by  night.  Those  which  are 
cut-worms  are  naked  and  hide  by  day  just  under  the  sur- 
face of  loose  earth  or  beneath  stones  and  other  shelters. 
They  may  be  distinguished  from  "White-grubs,"  larvae  of 
beetles  which  have  somewhat  similar  habits,  by  the  fact 
that  they  have  fleshy  prop-legs  on  their  abdomen.  Cut- 
worms curl  up,  head  to  tail,  when  at  rest  or  when  disturbed. 
When  very  abundant,  they  clamber  over  plants  eating  the 
leaves,  but  their  common  name  is  derived  from  their 
habit  of  gnawing  through  the  stems  of  tender  annuals. 
Many  cut-worms  hibernate  in  snug  underground  cells  and, 
so,  are  ready  vigorously  to  attack  our  seedlings  in  the 
spring.  Many  other  Noctuidae,  especially  those  whose 
larvae  feed  on  trees,  hibernate  as  pupae.  Cut-worms  may 
be  controlled  by  turning  over  the  soil  in  the  late  fall  and 
early  spring;  but,  better,  they  may  be  poisoned  by  distrib- 
uting throughout  the  garden,  before  setting  the  seedlings, 
a  mash  made  as  follows:  i  part  by  weight  of  Paris  green, 
25  parts  of  bran,  moistened  with  molasses  diluted  to  half- 
or  quarter-strength  with  water.  Chickens  invading  the 
garden  will  be  killed  by  this  mash.  Some  of  the  destruc- 
tive species  of  garden  cut- worms  which  will  not  be  further 
mentioned  here  are  (Plate  LI)  Agrotis  ypsilon,  Euxoa 
messoria,  Peridroma  saiicia,  Mamestra  picta,  Rhynchagrotis 
anchoceloides,  Noctua  clandestina,  and  N.  c.-nigrum.- 
Xylina  antennata  (Plate  LII)  feeds  on  apple  and  other 
plants;  the  adult  hibernates. 

This    genus    is    called    Apatela   in    some 
Acronycta  books,     and,     commonly,     Dagger-moths. 

As  more    than    forty  species   have    been    recorded  from 

172 


Plate  LI 


%^l 


AcronyctQ  Qmencono 


LaphygnriQ        Rhynchagrolis  '^^^^Z''/' 

frugiperdQ  Qnchoceloides  Euxoq 

LexiguQ  messoria 

■^■^^^         ^--  MoctuQ 


AutographQ    kfU^^^ 
Simplex  #  ^brasslcoe 


173 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


New  Jersey  alone,  I  can  do  no  more  than  give  samples. 
Acronycta  americana  (Plate  LI)  is  one  of  our  largest 
species;  the  light-gray  front  wings  expanding  nearly  2.5 
inches;  the  hind  wings  are  brownish.  With  sufficient 
imagination,  you  can  see,  near  the  hind,  outer  angle  of 
the  front  wings  of  americana  and  some  other  species,  the 
"dagger"  which  is  responsible  for  the  common  name  of  the 
genus.  Americana' s  larva  is  one  of  the  hairiest  of  Noctuid 
larv£e;  with  its  dense,  pale-yellow  hairs  it  resembles  an 
Arctiid  but  the  hairs  are  scattered  over  the  body  instead  of 
being  grouped  on  tubercles  as  is  the  rule  among  the  Arctii- 
dae;  there  is  a  pair  of  long,  black  hair-pencils  on  the  first 
abdominal  segment,  another  pair  on  the  third,  and  a  single 
such  pencil  on  the  eighth  abdominal  segment;  in  addition, 
there  are  hairs,  longer  than  the  general  covering,  along 
the  sides  and  at  each  end.  It  feeds  on  maple  (its  favorite), 
elm,  oak,  and  other  forest  trees.  Larvae  of  this  genus 
often  rest  near  the  base  of  a  leaf  with  the  front  end  of  the 
body  curved  back  so  that  they  are  somewhat  fish-hook- 
shaped.  When  disturbed,  Acronycta  larvae  are  given  to 
curling  up  and  dropping  off  of  their  food  plant.  They 
pupate  in  loose  cocoons,  which  are  placed  on  rough  bark 
or  under  ground-debris. 

Acronycta  hastulifera,  according  to  its  specific  name, 
"bears  a  spear"  instead  of  a  dagger.  Its  larvae  are  often 
abundant  on  alder  and  have  been  recorded  on  maple; 
they  suggest  those  of  americana  but  their  color  varies 
from  pale  to  deep  chocolate-brown.  Eliot  and  Soule, 
whose  Caterpillars  and  their  Moths  is  not  only  a  model  of 
careful  work  but  also  shows  what  pleasure  and  profit 
ladies  may  get  from  a  "crawlery, "  point  out  that  these 
larvae  "are  subject  to  fungoid  diseases  which  kill  many  of 
them,  and  their  stiff  bodies  may  be  found  on  branches  of 
the  alders,  apparently  unharmed,  but  they  break  at  a 
touch  and  are  filled  with  fungoid  growth."  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  fungi  and  bacteria  vie  with  insect  parasites  as 
enemies  of  caterpillars  in  general. 

The  larva  of  Acronycta  hamamelis,  as  its  specific  name 
signifies,  feeds  on  witch-hazel  but  it  is  also  found  on 
various  forest  trees.  This  larva  differs  from  its  two  rela- 
tives, just  mentioned,  in  being  almost  hairless;  it  varies 

174 


THE  ARiVlY=WORMS. 


from  light  yellow  to  reddish  brown  and  has  a  double  row  of 
white  spots  on  its  back;  these,  its  food  plants,  and  its 
fish-hook  resting  position  will  usually  identify  it. 

„  .  This  large  genus  contains  two  common, 

Hadena  .  ,  ,     °  .  ,  .  ,' 

Wide-spread,   destructive  cut-worms  which 

are  sometimes  put  in  the  genus  Xylophasia:  devastatrix  and 

arctica    (Plate  LI).     The  larvse  attack  garden   and   field 

crops;  the  adults  have  dark  brown  front  and  Hght  hind 

wings.     The  larvae  of  Hadena  turbulenta  are  sometimes 

noticed  on  green  briar  (Smilax)  because  of  their  gregarious 

habits. 

The  Fall  Army-worm  (Plate  LI)  appears 
Laphygma  later  than  the  true  Army- worm   {Leucania 

unipuncta)  and  the  larvae  are  not  so  choice 
about  their  food  for  they  eat  almost  any  crop,  scattering 
more  than  do  the  Army-worms.  The  pitch-black  stripe 
along  each  side  and  the  four  black  spots  on  the  back  of 
each  segment  distinguish  this  "worm"  from  Leucania. 
The  naked  pupae  hibernate  about  half  an  inch  below  groimd. 
Adults  emerge  in  the  spring  and  the  female  covers  her 
egg-clusters,  placed  on  grass,  with  hairs  from  her  own 
body.  There  are  two  or  three  generations  a  year  but  the 
larvae  which  appear  in  late  summer  are  the  most  destruc- 
tive. The  adult  has  a  "general  yellowish,  ash-gray  color, 
with  the  second  pair  of  wings  almost  transparent,  but 
with  a  purplish  reflection."  In  the  West  there  is  a  related 
species,  L.  exigua  (Plate  LI),  which  is  called  the  Beet 
Army  Worm  because  of  its  ravages  among  the  sugar-beets. 

The  Army- worm    (Plate   LII),   which  is 

Leucania  given  the  generic  name  Heliophila  by  some 

unipuncta  '^     ,  .  ^  .  .         r  ^ 

authors,  is  interesting  for  several  reasons; 

for  one,  it  is  a  conspicuous  example  of  a  species  which 

occasionally  gets  ahead  of    its  insect  parasites  and  other 

ills,  increasing  its  numbers  to  such  an  extent  that  its  larvae 

eat  all  the  available  food,  chiefly  grasses,  in  a  given  place 

and  are  forced  to  move  en  masse.     However,  fate  is  not 

to  be  permanently  outdone  and  soon  there  comes  a  time 

when  the  species  is  relatively  rare;  and  then  again  the 

175 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


pendulum  swings — Nature  is  "balanced"  but  not  very- 
steady.  This  dull-brown  moth  gets  its  specific  name  from 
the  "one  point"  of  white  on  each  front  wing.  It  appears 
early  in  the  season  (June  in  the  North),  and  yellowish 
eggs  are  laid  in  rows  at  the  bases  of  grass  leaves,  each 
female  depositing,  all  told,  about  seven  hundred.  The 
larvae  are  nearly,  or  quite,  two  inches  long  when  full- 
grown;  they  are  grayish-black  with  three  longitudinal 
yellow  stripes  on  the  back,  the  median  one  being  the 
narrowest,  and  a  wide  greenish-yellow  stripe  on  each 
side.  They  feed  at  night,  hiding  by  day  at  the  grass 
roots,  and  about  mid-summer  pupate,  without  a  cocoon, 
just  imder  the  surface  of  the  ground.  Adults  emerge  about 
two  weeks  later  but  their  offspring  are  not  usually  numerous 
enough  to  be  very  destructive.  The  next  brood  of  adults 
either  hibernate  or  they  lay  eggs  the  same  season  and  the 
larvae  hatching  from  these  eggs  hibernate.  The  number  of 
annual  generations  in  the  South  is  sometimes  as  high  as 
six.  Army-worms  with  white  eggs  on  them  should  not 
be  killed,  as  these  are  the  eggs  of  some  parasite,  usually 
of  a  Tachinid  fly.  There  are  numerous  other  species  in 
the  genus,  the  Wheat-head  Army- worm,  Leucania  albilinea 
(Plate  LII)  being  sometimes  troublesome  to  farmers. 

Larvae  of  this  genus,  which  has  also  been 
Papaipema  ^^^^^^    Hydrcecia,    bore    in    the    stalks    of 

plants.  Papaipema  nitela  (Plate  LII)  is  the  best  known, 
for  its  larvae  are  sometimes  abundant  in  garden  plants, 
such  as  potatoes,  tomatoes,  and  corn,  especially  if  rag- 
weeds, dock,  and  other  wild  plants,  the  natural  food  of 
the  species,  are  allowed  to  grow  near  the  garden.  Eggs 
are  laid  in  the  fall  but  do  not  hatch  imtil  May.  The 
larvae  then  start  tunnelling  and  if  they  confined  themselves 
to  one  plant,  not  much  injury  would  be  done.  However, 
they  frequently  leave  the  first  plant  and  migrate  some 
distance;  it  is  then  that  our  garden  plants  fall  victims. 
Infested  plants  wilt  above  the  place  where  the  larva  is 
working,  but  sometimes  the  lar\'ae  get  under  the  husks  of 
green  com  and  remain  unnoticed  until  an  attempt  is 
made  to  use  the  corn.  However,  see  Heliothis.  Pupation 
takes  place  in  the  larva's  timnel;  no  cocoon  is  made  but, 

176 


Plate  LII 


ina  ^  QnTennalQ. 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


just  before  it  pupates,  the  larva  bores  a  hole  in  the  stalk  so 
that  the  adult  may  easily  escape.  Adults  emerge  about 
August,  there  being  but  one  annual  generation. 

Sanderson,  in  his  Insect  Pests  of  Farm, 
Hehothis  Garden,  and   Orchard,   and  others   use   the 

specific  name  ohsoleta  for  this  species 
(Plate  LII).  Holland  remarks:  "This  insect,  which  is 
known  to  English  entomologists  as  the  'Scarce  Bordered 
Straw, '  is  unfortunately  not  scarce  in  the  United  States, 
and,  being  of  a  singularly  gluttonous  habit  in  the  larval 
stage,  has  become  the  object  of  execration  to  farmers  and 
horticulturists."  It  has  been  called  the  Corn  Ear- worm, 
Tomato  Fruit- worm.  Tobacco  Bud- worm,  and  Cotton 
Boll-worm,  in  reference  to  some  of  its  various  food  habits. 
The  color  and  markings  of  the  adults  are  variable,  some 
being  yellowish  white,  with  nearly  no  markings,  while 
others  are  dull  green.  The  larvae  are  also  variable:  light 
green,  reddish  brown,  or  almost  black;  spotted,  striped,  or 
plain.  Pupation  occurs  at  the  bottom  of  an  underground 
cell  which  is  like  a  half-U,  the  upper  end  being  near  the 
surface  of  the  ground  but  not  at  the  point  where  the  larva 
entered ;  there  is  no  cocoon.  There  are  two  annual  genera- 
tions in  the  North  but  there  may  be  five  or  six  along  the 
Gulf.  In  the  North,  winter  is  usually  passed  as  a  pupa. 
When  feeding  on  young  corn,  the  larvae  eat  the  leaves  but 
later  they  feed  on  the  tender  ears  and  sometimes  do  as 
much  as  $50,000,000  damage  a  year  in  this  way.  When 
feeding  on  tomatoes,  they  prefer  the  green  or  just  ripening 
fruit.  When  feeding  on  tobacco,  they  are  called  the  False 
Bud-worm  to  distinguish  them  from  the  True  Bud-worm 
{Chloridea  virescens);  as  such  they  eat  not  only  the  flower- 
stalks  and  seed-pods  but  also  the  precious  leaves.  Not 
finally  but  for  the  sake  of  stopping  somewhere,  they  do 
about  $20,000,000  damage,  annually,  to  cotton  by  boring 
into  the  bolls.  In  the  North,  winter  plowing  kills  many 
of  the  pupae,  and,  in  the  South,  cotton  may  be  protected 
by  sowing  trap-crops  of  corn,  but  everywhere  the  best 
plan  with  this,  as  with  other  insect  pests,  is  to  send  an 
S.  O.  S.  to  your  State  Entomologist  or  to  the  United  States 
Department  of  Agriculture  for  special  information  and 

178 


CATOCALA:  UNDER=WINQS. 


help.  It  is  for  this,  among  other  things,  that  you  pay  your 
taxes. 

This  genus  (Plate  LI)  is  variously  split 
Autographa  ^^^^    several.     For    example,     the    Celery 

Looper,  Autographa  simplex  of  Holland's  book,  will  be 
found  under  Plusia  in  some  books.  Except  for  this 
hint  (and  it  applies  with  equal  force  in  the  case  of  other 
genera)  to  those  who  might  be  confused  when  more  than 
one  book  is  used,  it  need  not  concern  us  further  since 
the  only  species  we  can  mention  in  any  detail  was,  no 
later  than  yesterday,  still  in  the  Autographa  pigeon-hole. 
If  you  find  a  brown  Noctuid-looking  moth  with  a  wing 
expanse  of  i.o  to  1.5  inches  and  with  one,  or  more,  not 
strictly  circular,  silver  spots  near  the  middle  of  each  front 
wing,  it  is  a  fairly  safe  bet  that  it  is  either  Autographa  or 
closely  related  to  it;  Some  of  the  species  fly  by  day.  The 
larvae  are  called  loopers  or  semi-loopers  because  they 
walk  somewhat  like  measuring- worms  (Geometridas)  on 
account  of  not  having  any  prop-legs  on  the  third  and  fourth 
abdominal  segments.  Autographa  hrassiccB  is  a  close 
second  to  Pieris  rapcE  when  it  comes  to  injuring  cabbage, 
cauliflower,  and  the  like.  The  larva  is  colored  much  like 
the  ordinary  cabbage  worm  but  has  longitudinal  white 
lines  when  young,  and  it  loops.  The  cocoon  is  a  thin 
transparent  affair  attached  to  the  leaf  on  which  the  larva 
was  feeding.  There  are  two  or  more  generations  annually, 
winter  probably  being  passed  in  the  pupal  state.  This  is  a 
good  place  to  say  that  m^any  of  the  Noctuid  moths  have  a 
tuft  of  scales  on  the  thorax  which  does  not  show  well  when 
viewed  from  above. 

The  genus  Catocala  shares  the  amateurs' 
Catocala  . .  j^^^  m  ^- ^ j^  ^j^^  Satumiidse  and  the  Sphingi- 

daj.  IMany  of  its  species  are  pretty;  they  are  interesting 
because  they  have  bright  colors  on  the  hind  wings,  which 
are  covered,  when  at  rest,  by  the  "protectively  colored" 
front  wings  and  are  usually  displayed  only  at  night  when 
they  cannot  be  seen — at  least,  by  our  eyes.  Plate  LIII 
shows  an  exhibit  in  the  American  ^Museum  illustrating 
the  fact  that,  however  conspicuous  when  flying  in  day- 

179 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


time,  Catocalinas  are  concealed  in  plain  sight  when  resting. 
I  will  not  swear  that  I  ever  saw  a  live  relicta  so  neatly 
placed  on  just  the  right  spot  of  just  the  right  tree,  a  birch, 
but  it  surely  does  require  sharp  eyes  to  see  a  resting 
Catocala  or,  for  that  matter,  almost  any  moth  when  it  is 
naturally  resting.  The  adults  of  Catocala  are  sometimes 
called  Under-wings  because  of  the  conspicuousness  of 
these  organs.  He  or  she  who  "sugars"  for  moths  will 
probably  find  varieties  of  those  illustrated  here,  as  well  as 
totally  different  species,  for  they  are  fond  of  sweets  and 
are  sometimes  numerous.  The  larvae  tend  to  be  plump 
in  the  middle,  tapering  tovrard  both  ends.  They  pupate 
in  flimsy  cocoons,  which  are  usually  placed  under  debris 
on  the  ground.  Winter  is  usually,  at  least,  passed  in  the 
egg  state. 

Mrs.  Stratton-Porter,  in  lamenting  her  lack  of  knowledge 
concerning  the  life-history  of  these  moths,  takes  another 
whack  at  some  of  us :  "  Professional  lepidopterists  dismiss 
them  with  few  words.  One  would-be  authority  disposes 
of  the  species  with  half  a  dozen  lines.  You  can  find  at 
least  a  hundred  Catocala  reproduced  from  museum  speci- 
mens and  their  habitat  given,  in  the  Holland  Moth  Book, 
but  I  fail  to  learn  what  I  most  desire  to  know:  what 
these  moths  feed  on;  how  late  they  live;  how  their  eggs 
appear;  where  they  are  deposited;  which  is  their  cat- 
erpillar; what  does  it  eat;  and  where  and  how  does  it 
pupate.  .  .  .  This  will  tend .  to  bear  out  my  contention 
that  scientific  works  are  not  the  help  they  should  be  to  the 
Nature  Lover."  Lord  bless  you,  Mrs.  Porter!  If  Dr. 
Holland  had  put  in  all  that  (He  couldn't  have  done  it.) 
for  each  of  the  thousands  of  species  his  books  help  you  and 
others  to  identify,  he  not  only  would  have  deprived  you  of 
the  pleasure  of  finding  out  these  things  for  youiself  but 
most  of  the  *  *  others, ' '  at  any  rate,  would  not  have  been 
able  to  own  the  resulting  tomes.  It  so  happens  that  I 
have  seen  Mr.  Beutenmuller's  uncompleted  monograph  of 
Catocala;  it  tells  most  of  the  things  known  about  American 
Catocala,  less  than  you  ask,  and  there  are  over  six  hundred 
pages  of  manuscript.  Perhaps  it  will  be  noticed  that  I  am 
saying  little  about  eggs;  I  have  to  draw  a  line  somewhere, 
and  people  have  not  often  asked  me  about  eggs.     I  hope 

i8o 


Plate  LI 1 1 


CqIocqIq   relictQ 


C  vidua 


CcarQ 


C. ultronia 


CATOCALA:  UNDER=WlNaS. 


I  have  told,  in  this  little  book,  something  about  all  the 
sorts  of  insects'  eggs  which  have  excited  the  curiosity  of 
my  unspecialized  visitors  and  correspondents.  Of  course, 
my  experience  is  limited;  tomorrow,  some  one,  not  a 
specialist  nor  an  advanced  amateur,  may  ask  a  question 
which  I  have  not  been  asked  before  and  very  possibly 
I  will  be  imable  to  answer  it. 

Catocala  idtronia  (Plate  LIII)  is  a  variable  species, 
several  forms  having  been  given  distinctive  names.  The 
larvae  feed  on  plum,  apple,  and  v.dld  cherry  leaves.  The 
pupae  in  their  cocoons,  which  are  formed  in  July  under 
chips  or  dead  leaves,  are  covered  with  a  bluish,  easily 
rubbed  bloom.  Adults  fly  from  late  July  to  October. 
Eggs  are  well  hidden  in  crevices  of  the  bark  of  their  food- 
trees. 

Catocala  cara  (Plate  LIII)  larvae,  on  willow  and  poplar, 
have  a  purplish  head  streaked  and  spotted  with  pale  tes- 
taceous ;  their  bodies  are  light  to  dark  clay  or  wood  brown ; 
on  each  side  of  the  back  is  a  smoky,  longitudinal  band  and 
a  wav3%  broken  one  on  each  side  along  the  spiracles; 
the  dorsal  warts  are  dull  carmine  or  yellowish-brown ;  the 
underside  is  reddish,  with  a  large  black  patch  between 
each  of  the  first  three  pairs  of  abdominal  legs.  Adults 
are  to  be  found  from  July  to  September. 

Catocala  relicta  (Plate  LIII)  larvae  feed  on  poplar  and 
also,  probably,  willow  and  white  birch;  they  are  greenish- 
white,  thickly  spotted  with  yellowish-brown,  the  ninth 
and  twelfth  segments  and  the  head  being  marked  with 
black.  The  cocoon  is  rather  thick  and  is  usually  made  in 
fallen  leaves,  drawn  together  by  the  larva.  Adults,  of 
which  there  are  several  named  forms,  appear  from  July 
to  September. 

Catocala  vidua  (Plate  LIII)  larvae  eat  walnut,  butternut, 
hickory,  and  oak ;  they  are  pale  lilac  with  stripes  composed 
of  black  dots,  giving  a  gray  appearance;  their  heads  are 
striped  with  dull  lilac  and  white  and  have  orange  spots, 
above,  with  a  black  hair  in  the  center  of  each.  Pupation 
is  said  to  occur  in  June;  most  of  our  adult  specimens  were 
caught  in  August  and  September. 

Plate  LIV  shows  Catocala  co?icuinbens,  larva  on  willow  and 
poplar ;  C.  grynea,  larva  on  apple  and  plum ;  and  C.  arnica. 

i8i 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Nuhiiis  (Plate  LIV)  has  been  put  in  Euparthenos;  it 
feeds  on  locust. 

This  species  (Plate  LII)  claims  a  para- 
Alabama  graph  because  it  got  into  the  New  York 
argillacea  ^  ^  j      i  i     ^ 

subways,   and  also  newspapers,   last  year. 

It  belongs  'way  down  South  in  the  cotton  fields  where, 
until  the  invasion  of  the  boll  weevil,  it  was  Cotton's  most 
serious  pest.  Its  breeding  range  is  from  Argentina  to  as 
far  north  as  cotton  grows.  The  larvae  are  greenish,  vari- 
ously spotted  or  striped  with  black  according  to  their  age. 
They  feed  on  the  cotton  leaves,  buds,  and  even  tender 
twigs,  pupating  in  a  thin  cocoon  made  in  a  folded  leaf. 
Sanderson  says:  "The  moth  is  a  dull  olive-gray  color 
with  a  wing  expanse  of  about  i^  inches,  which  sometimes 
has  a  purple  luster  and  which  are  marked  with  darker 
lines.  .  .  .  Like  most  of  the  owlet  moths  it  flies  only 
after  sunset,  but  unlike  them  it  is  not  confined  to  the 
nectar  of  flowers  for  food,  as  its  mouth  is  peculiarly  adapted 
to  piercing  the  skin  of  ripe  fruit  and  feeding  upon  its 
juices."  After  stating  that  there  are  at  least  seven  genera- 
tions annually  on  the  Gulf  Coast  and  three  at  the  northern 
limit  of  the  species,  he  notes  that  "if  none  were  killed,  the 
progeny  of  a  single  moth  after  four  generations  would 
amount  to  over  300,000,000,000  individuals,  or  if  placed 
end  to  end,  the  third  generation  would  be  enough  to  circle 
the  earth  at  the  equator  over  four  times."  That  is  a 
fairly  good-sized  "if,"  but  make  it  much  smaller  and  you 
still  have  a  sufficient  reason  for  a  considerable  northward 
migration. 

This  large  moth  (Plate  LIV)  drifted  into 
Erebus  ^^y    Question    Box    because    it    was    "big 

enough  to  be  a  Saturniid  but  isn't  in  the 
book" — one  concerning  the  Saturniid^e,  etc.,  of  the  vicinity 
of  New  York  City.  Size  does  not  always  count.  This 
Noctuid  does  not  belong  in  the  North  although,  being  a 
strong  flier,  it  gets  even  into  Canada.  Holland  records 
its  having  been  found  in  a  snow-storm  at  Leadville, 
Colorado.  All  the  northern  captures  I  know  about  were 
females  in  September.     Although    I    have  seen  it  flying 

182 


Plate  LIV 


C.  grynea 


CqIocqIq  concumbens 


Erebus  odora 


i8.s 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


back  and  forth  in  its  tropical  home  just  at  dusk  or  even 
at  mid-day  if  the  place  was  shady,  I  have  never  recognized 
its  larva,  which  is  said  to  feed  on  Legiimes. 

Hypenid.e 

These  moths,  or  part  of  them,  are  sometimes  put  in  the 
Noctuidae.  They  are  commonly  called  Deltoids  because 
the  outline  of  their  wings,  when  at  rest,  is  frequently  tri- 
angular like  the  Greek  capital  Delta;  also  Snout-moths 
because  the  palpi  of  many  species  are  enlarged  and  so  held 
as  to  resemble  a  beak.  For  the  most  part,  the  adults  are 
dull  colored,  obscurely  marked,  and  not  likely  to  arouse 
comment  by  any  but  the  collectors,  and  even  they  have 
not  been  enthusiastic,  although  these  moths  come  readily 
to  light  and  sugar-bait.  However,  they  have  their  in- 
teresting points.  Secondary  sexual  modifications  are 
common,  the  males  frequently  having  wings,  feet,  antennae, 
or  palpi  shaped  differently  from  those  of  their  mates. 
The  larvae  of  Epizeuxis  americalis  have  been  found  in  the 
nests  of  ants  {Formica  rufa);  it  and  some  of  its  relatives 
seem  to  prefer  dead  leaves  to  living.  Hypena  hiimuli 
is  frequently  injurious  to  hops.  In  July,  Mr.  Grossbeck 
found  a  swarm  of  adult  Epizeuxis  lubricalis  (Plate  LV)  in  a 
hollow  tree.  The  larvae  feed  on  decaying  wood  and, 
probably,  also  on  grasses;  they  are  usually  foimd  under 
chips. 

NOTODONTID^ 

The  adults  superficially  resemble  the  Noctuidae.  They 
come  freely  to  light  and  often  to  sugar-bait.  The  larvae 
have  no  claspers  at  the  hind  end  of  the  body  and  so  they 
more  generally  wave  this  portion  in  the  air  than  do  other 
caterpillars;  sometimes  the  anal  segment  has  a  pair  of 
fleshy  projections  but  these  seem  to  correspond  rather  to 
humps  on  other  segments  than  to  prop-legs.  The  pupae 
are  usually  naked. 

The  yellow-necked,  yellow-striped  cater- 

atana  pillar  on  apple  and  other  trees  which  seems, 

when  disturbed  or  when  at  rest,  to  be  trying  to  touch  its 

184 


THE  NOTODONTS. 


tail  with  its  head  is  fairly  certain  to  be  Datana  ministra 
(Plate  LV).  It  is  somewhat  fuzzy,  especially  when 
young,  and  is  given  to  associating  with  its  brothers  and 
sisters,  the  whole  family  gathering  in  a  mass  and  going 
through  their  gymnastics  at  the  same  time.  The  naked 
pupae  winter  in  the  earth.  The  adults  emerge  in  June  and 
July;  their  front  wings  are  reddish  brown,  their  hind  wings 
pale  yellowish.  The  eggs  are  laid  in  flat  masses  of  about  a 
hundred  on  the  leaves  of  their  food  plants.  The  larvae 
of  Datana  integerrima  are  darker  than  those  of  ministra^ 
they  lack  the  yellow  neck-band,  and  they  seem  to  have 
more  fine  white  hair.  They  feed  chiefly  on  walnut  and 
hickory.  The  adults  are  browner  (not  so  reddish)  than 
ministra  and  the  pair  of  fine  lines  which  enclose  a  dark  area 
near  the  base  of  the  front  wings  do  not  diverge  from  each 
other  so  much.  You  may  find  Datana  angusii,  and  other 
species  as  well,  but  the  larvae  of  all,  as  far  as  I  know, 
throw  themselves  into  the  posture  shown  for  ministra. 

The   larva   of   Schizura   concinna    (Plate 
Schizura  LV),  which  feeds  on  apple  and  other  orchard 

trees  as  well  as  on  rose,  blackberry,  and  a  great  variety  of 
plants,  is  frequently  noticed  because  of  the  prominent 
bright  red  hump  on  the  first  abdominal  segment ;  the  head 
is  also  red;  the  body  is  black,  striped  with  yellow.  Hol- 
land, quoting  Sir  George  Hampson,  says  the  pupse  of 
Notodontidae  are  naked;  I  put  in  a  "usually,"  above, 
because  I  have  it  on  good  authority  that  the  larvjE  of  this 
species  become  full  grown  in  late  summer  or  early  fall  and 
then  spin  loose  silken  cocoons  to  which  are  attached  bits  of 
earth  and  rubbish,  so  that  they  closely  resemble  their 
surroundings  as  they  lie  on  the  ground  beneath  rubbish, 
or  just  under  the  surface  of  the  soil.  After  som.e  time  the 
larvse  transform  to  pupae,  in  which  stage  the  winter  is 
passed.  The  adult  has  a  wing  expanse  of  about  an  inch 
and  a  quarter,  gray  front  wings  with  a  curved  cross-row 
of  brown  shades  near  the  m.iddle,  and  white  hind  wings 
with  dark  vein-tips  and  a  small  dark  spot  at  the  hind 
angle. 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


LlPARID.^ 


The  best  known  and  worst  liked  species 
emerocampa     ^^  ^^^^  family  is  the  present  one,  which  is 
leucostigma 

popularly  called  the  Vaporer  or  White- 
marked  Tussock  Moth.  The  latter  name  refers  to  the 
larva  (Plate  LV)  with  its  four  white  tussocks.  This 
larva  is  further  adorned  with  three  long  pencils  of  black 
hair,  a  coral-red  head  and,  in  addition  to  yellow  and  black 
stripings  on  the  body  in  general,  two  small  red  protuber- 
ances on  the  sixth  and  seventh  abdominal  segments;  these 
red  swellings  are  said  to  be  organs  which  give  off  an  odor 
disagreeable  to  the  larva's  enemies.  All  in  all,  it  is  a  pretty 
creature  if  it  only  would  not  eat  the  leaves  of  our  shade 
trees,  among  which  it  seems  to  be  no  respecter  of  species. 
I  am  not  sure  how  the  name  Vaporer  arose  but  I  remember 
that  my  mother  used  to  ask  me  not  to  "vapor"  around  her 
face  when  I  got  to  swinging  things  about.  Well,  this 
larva  is  much  given  to  spinning  a  long  thread,  hanging 
by  it  from  a  tree  and  allowing  itself  to  be  swung  by  the 
breezes.  Perhaps  that  is  the  reason  for  the  name.  The 
grayish  cocoon  is  placed  on  tree  trunks,  fence  corners, 
and  similar  places;  it  is  composed  of  larval  hairs  held 
together  by  silk.  The  adult  female  is  a  stay-at-home 
for  she  has  no  wings.  She  merely  crawls  to  the  outside 
of  the  cocoon,  mates,  lays  her  batch  of  four  hundred  or 
so  eggs  on  the  cocoon,  protects  them  with  a  firm,  frothy- 
looking  covering,  and  dies.  The  general  color  of  the  male  is 
ashy  gray.  There  are  from  one  to  three  generations  a 
year,  depending  on  the  climate.  It  is  the  eggs  which 
over-winter.  Slingerland  and  Crosby  note  that  the  tus- 
sock-moth is  beset  with  many  enemies.  After  mention- 
ing birds  and  predacious  insects  they  say  "as  many  as  90 
per  cent,  of  the  caterpillars  and  pupae  sometimes  fall  a 
prej"  to  more  than  twentj''  different  kinds  of  hymenopterous 
and  dipterous  insect  parasites.  .  .  .  Unfortunately,  how- 
ever, there  are  fourteen  hyper-parasites  which  work  on  the 
true  parasites  and  thus  materially  lessen  their  effective- 
ness. There  are  also  tertiary  parasites  which  destroy  these 
hyper-parasites,  thus  presenting  a  very  complicated  and 
interesting  case  of  insect  parasitism."     If    you  once  get  a 

186 


Plate  LV 


Epizeuxis  lubricalis 


5chizurQ   concmna 


DotariQ  ministra 


'HemerocQmpQ    leuco stigma 
187 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


tree  free  from  this  species,  it  may  be  kept  free  by  banding 
the  tnink  with  sticky  paper,  or  the  like,  unless  the  tree 
is  so  close  to  others  that  larvae  may  be  blown  to  it.  The 
reason  back  of  this  protective  method  is  that  the  females 
can  not  fly. 

About  1868  an  amateur  entomologist  in 
Porthetria  Massachusetts    was    breeding     the    Gypsy 

Moth  (Plate  LVI),  using  material  which  he 
had  obtained  from  Europe.  His  reason  for  doing  this  has 
been  variously  stated;  an  excuse,  which  might  now  be 
made  for  him,  is  that  "he  did  not  know  it  was  loaded." 
At  any  rate,  some  of  the  specimens  went  off  and  started  to 
colonize  America.  Millions  of  dollars  have  since  been 
spent  in  an  effort,  so  far  unsuccessful,  to  free  us  from  the 
invader;  the  most  that  has  been  done  has  been  to  confine 
it  to  New  England.  The  United  States  Bureau  of  Entomo- 
logy is  now  engaged  in  an  attempt  to  introduce  from  Europe 
parasites  which  there  hold  it,  and  the  Brown-tail  Moth, 
in  check.  The  male  Gypsy  Aloth  is  olive-brown;  the 
whitish  female  rarely  flies  and  then  but  feebly,  although 
the  wings  are  rather  well  developed.  Adults  appear  from 
June  to  September  but  most  abundantly  in  early  July. 
The  eggs,  which  are  yellowish,  nearly  globular,  and  about 
a  twentieth  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  are  laid  in  masses  of 
from  less  than  200  to  more  than  1000  and  covered  with  buff- 
colored  scales  from  the  underside  of  the  female's  abdomen 
(See  Plate  LVI).  These  masses  are  placed  anywhere  that 
the  female  happens  to  be ;  as  she  does  not  crawl  far  from  the 
pupal  shell  in  which  she  dwelt  and  as  the  larvae  are  much 
given  to  pupating  under  overhanging  stones,  on  fences, 
buildings,  wagons,  railroad  cars,  and  the  like,  as  well  as 
on  vegetation,  there  is  where  the  eggs  are  to  be  found. 
Though  the  larvae  m.ay  develop  in  a  few  weeks,  they  rarely 
hatch  until  the  next  April  or  May.  More  than  five 
hundred  species  of  plants,  including  conifers,  are  in  their 
dietary.  The  full-grown  larva  is  about  2.25  inches  long, 
brownish-yellow  with  long  hairs  and  four  rows  of  tubercles ; 
there  is  one  tubercle  of  each  row  on  each  segment,  those 
on  the  anterior  segments  being  blue,  those  (especially  of 
the  two  middle  rows)  on  the  posterior  segments  being  red. 


Plate  LVI 


r^       V-^,  v.  '^^  V^  -xX  V*'^   ^ 


Porthetr'iQ  dispar 


chrysorrholQ 


189 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


The  larvae  are  largely  nocturnal  and  spend  the  day  con- 
gregated in  colonies  on  a  limb,  trunk,  or  in  some  protected 
nook.  They  pupate  about  July,  also  often  in  colonies, 
each  rather  conical,  dark-brown  pupa,  about  an  inch 
long,  lying  among  a  fev.-  threads,  and  securely  attached  to 
some  of  them  bj'  its  terminal  spine.  If  you  should  see 
something  which  you  think  may  be  the  Gypsy  Aioth  or  the 
Brown-tail  AToth,  in  any  of  their  stages,  send  it  at  once 
to  your  State  Entomologist  or  to  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of 
Entom.ology  at  Washington. 

We   do   not   know   how   the   Brown -tail 
Euproctis  j^j^^j^    (pj^^g    LVI)    crossed    the    Atlantic 

chrysorrhcea 

from  Europe,  but  it  happened  near  Boston 

in  the  early  nineties.  Its  American  range  is  now  from 
Rhode  Island  to  Nova  Scotia.  Unlike  those  of  the  Gypsy 
Moth,  these  females  fly  freely,  so  that  wind  is  a  factor  in 
their  spread;  the}''  are  white,  except  for  the  yellowish-brown 
hairs  at  the  tip  of  their  abdomen,  which  give  them  their 
name.  The  males  are  similar  but  smaller  and  the  brown 
of  their  tails  is  not  so  conspicuous.  Adults  appear  in 
July  and  fly  abundantly  to  lights.  The  female  covers  her 
egg-mass,  which  is  usually  placed  on  the  under  side  of  a 
leaf,  with  brownish  hairs  from  her  body.  The  larvrc 
hatch  in  two  or  three  weeks  and  feed  in  colonies,  webbing 
together  the  tender  terminal  leaves.  In  this  nest  they 
pass  the  winter,  when  a  third  or  half  grown.  The  full- 
grown  larva  is  about  an  inch  and  a  half  long,  nearly  black 
but  with  a  red  tubercle  on  the  back  of  the  ninth  and  tenth 
segments;  it  is  clothed  with  hair,  there  being  a  row  of 
nearly  white  tufts  on  each  side  of  the  body  and  the  rest 
brownish.  These  liairs,  especially  the  brown  ones,  are 
barbed  and  carry  an  irritating  poison;  furthermore,  they 
are  carried  by  wind  when  freed  at  molting  times  and,  if 
they  gain  entrance  to  the  human  skin,  give  rise  to  "brown- 
tail  rash."  The  larvae  feed  on  a  wide  range  of  plants, 
preferring  apple,  pear,  wild  cherry,  oak,  and  maple.  The 
cocoons  are  loosely  spun,  often  in  masses,  in  curled  leaves, 
crevices  in  bark,  and  in  other  sheltered  places.  The  pupal 
period  averages  about  three  weeks.  See  Gypsy  Moth  for 
ad\'ice. 

190 


THE  TENT-CATERPILLAR. 


Lasiocampid.e 


Malacosoma 
americana 


If  the  Tent-caterpillar  (Plate  LVII)  were 
not  so  common  and  such  a  pest  we  who  are 
interested  in  nature  would  be  willing  to  go 
miles  to  see  a  colon3\     We  might  even  bring  eggs  home  so 
that  we  could  have  it  in  our  garden.     In  some  books  you 
u-ill    find    this    species    and    disstria    under    Clisiocampa. 
The  adults,  which  are  dull  yellowish  or  reddish-brown, 
appear  in  late  June  or  early  July.     The  female  lays  three 
or  four  hundred  eggs  in  a  band  which  encircles  a  small 
twig  of  some  tree,  preferably  wild  cherry  or  apple.     This 
band  is  rounded  at  the  ends  and  covered  with  a  water- 
proof protective  "varnish."     The  embryos  develop  before 
winter  but  do  not  emerge  until  the  next  spring.     Their 
first  act  seems  to  be    helping  brothers  and  sisters  spin  a 
temporary  silken  tent  around  what  is  left  of  the  egg-mass. 
If  this  is  in  a  good  place  from  which  to  go  out  for  food,  they 
may  make  their    permanent  tent  here    but  usually  they 
move,  in  several  days,  to  a  fairly  large  fork  of  the  tree 
and    there    construct    the,    to    us,    unsightly    web.     The 
family  sticks  together  until  nearly  full  grown,  resting  in  the 
tent  during  storms  and  the  heat  of  the  day  and  coming 
out  to  feed  when  it  is  cool  but  not  too  cold.       On  these 
excursions  they  follow,  to  some  extent,  definite  paths  which 
may  be  recognized  by  silken  threads  spun  by  the  passing 
larvae.     They  get  wanderlust  when  full-grown.     Perhaps 
I  object  to  them  then  more  than  ever,  for  they  crawl  over 
everything.     They  are  really  hunting  for  a  protected  place 
in  which  to  spin  tough,  oval,  white  cocoons,  which  are  held 
in  place  by  irregular  threads.     Considering  that  Nature 
helps  us  by  giving  this  species  many  enemies,  that  the  larvae 
gather  in  all  too  conspicuous  webs  where  we  may  con- 
veniently biun  them,  and  that  even  the  eggs  may  be  easily 
seen  and  removed  during  the  winter,  it  is  strange  that 
people  allow  M.  americana  to  exist.     The  reason  probably 
is    that    its    extermination    requires    community   action. 
Last  winter  I  picked  all  the  egg-masses  off  my  trees ;  in  the 
spring  the  editor  of  our  country  paper  published  a  long 
article  telling  how  to  combat  the  tent-caterpillar;  he  lives 
across  the  street  from  me  but  he  did  nothing  to  the  big 

191 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


colonies  on  an  old  cherry  tree  in  his  yard  because  he  was 
going  to  cut  the  tree  down  in  the  autumn;  this  winter  I 
must  go  all  over  my  trees  again. 

Malacosoma  -J^^  common  name,   Forest   Tent-cater- 

disstria  P^^^^^'  of  this  species  (Plate  LVII)  is  wrong 

for  it  makes  no  tent  although  closely  related 
to  amencana.  Its  egg-masses  resemble  those  of  the 
other  eastern  species  but  are  more  square-cut  at  the  ends 
The  larv«  eat  the  leaves  of  ahnost  any  deciduous  tree  but 
maple  is  said  to  be  its  favorite.  They  feed  in  colonies 
when  young.  Many  of  the  cocoons  are  placed  in  curled 
leaves. 

BOMBYCIDvE 

Bombyi  Perhaps  the  Commercial  Silk-worm  ought 

mori  °°*  to  be  in  a  Field  Book  since  it  is  not  a 

field-insect.  It  is  probable  that,  even  in  its 
native  home,  it  could  not  now  exist  wild  since  the  larval 
legs  have  so  degenerated  that  the  larv«  cannot  chmb  well 
The  entire  family  was  originally  confined  to  Asia.  The  larva 
will  eat  the  leaves  of  several  kinds  of  plants,  such  as  Osage 
orange,  but  it  does  best  on  white  mulberry.  The  adults 
have  a  wing-expanse  of  about  1.75  inches,  are  creamy 
white  and,  although  the  wings  seem  fairly  well  developed 
the  moths  do  not  fly,  perhaps  because  of  generations  of 
artificial  confinement.  Each  female  lays  about  three 
hundred  eggs.  There  are  many  races  which  have  been 
produced  by  man's  selection;  some  have  one  while  others 
may  have  as  many  as  six  generations  a  year,  also  the  color 
of  larv^  and  cocoons  differ.  If  labor  were  cheap  enough 
m  Amenca  to  make  the  rearing  of  silk-worms  pay,  it  is 
probable  that  some  of  our  native  Saturniid^  would  be 
fully  as  profitable  as  this  species. 

Geometrid^ 

Larvag  of  this  family  are  familiar  to  almost  everyone  but 
only  a  small  proportion  of  those  larvs  which  come  within 
our  range  of  vision  are  really  seen,  since  most  of  them 
stiffen    themselves   and  pass   for   a  twig.     Others,    those 

192 


Plate  LVII 


MqIqcosoitiq    disstriQ 


13 


193 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


which  develop  into  the  small,  delicate,  green  moths  you 
may  have  noticed  about  the  lights,  cover  themselves  with 
bits  of  their  food ;  when  next  you  gather  Black-eyed  Susans 
and  Field  Daisies  look  carefully  on  the  flowers  for  a  collec- 
tion of  petals  fastened  to  the  back  of  a  Geometrid  larva 
(Plate  LVIII).  The  name  of  this  family  means  "earth 
measurers"  and  in  English  we  call  the  larvae  Aleasuring- 
worms.  Inch-worms,  vSpan-worms,  or  Loopers.  The 
saying  that,  when  they  walk  on  our  clothes,  they  are 
planning  a  new  suit  for  us  is  probably  as  logical  as  "earth- 
measuring"  and  more  interesting  to  us  personally.  Their 
peculiar  locomotion  is  due  to  their  lacking  all  but  two  or 
three  pairs  of  abdominal  legs;  with  legs  only  at  each  end 
of  the  body  they  must  hump  themselves  to  get  along. 
The  adults  are  slender-bodied;  their  wings  are  broad  and 
the  pattern  on  the  front  wing  is,  in  many  cases,  continued 
on  the  hind  wings.  Nearly  a  thousand  species  have  been 
described  from  this  country  alone. 

Imagine  a  tiny  gray  flower-pot  having 
Aisophila  ^  gray  cover  decorated  with  a  dark  central 

spot  and  a  dark  ring  near  the  edge;  that  is 
like  an  egg  of  the  Fall  Canker-worm,  which  also  goes 
under  the  generic  name  of  Anisopteryx.  The  female 
(Plate  LVIII)  places  several  hundred  of  them  in  a  flat 
mass,  keeping  the  rows  regular,  on  the  bark  of  almost 
any  deciduous  tree.  This  is  usually  done  in  Novem- 
ber but  sometimes  not  until  spring.  The  larvae,  es- 
pecially at  first,  skeletonize  the  leaves  instead  of  eating 
them  entirely;  they  get  to  be  about  an  inch  long,  are 
black  and  have,  on  each  side,  a  stripe  of  yellow  below  the 
spiracles  and  three  narrower  whitish  stripes  above  them. 
These  larvae,  like  many  of  their  relatives,  often  let  them- 
selves part-way  down  to  the  ground  by  means  of  a  silken 
thread.  If  it  is  not  your  tree,  it  is  rather  amusing  to  see 
them  climb  up  this  thread  again,  for  all  the  world  like  a 
sailor  going  up  a  rope.  Once,  about  the  first  of  June,  they 
do  not  go  back  but  instead  go  to  a  depth  of  from  one  to 
four  inches  underground,  where  they  spin  a  thin,  tough 
cocoon,  pupate,  and  remain  until  October,  November,  or 
the  next  spring.     The  adult  males  are  brownish-gray  and 

194 


MEASURING-WORMS. 


have  good  wings.  The  females  have  much  the  same  color 
but  are  wingless.  However,  the  females  are  not  as  seden- 
tary as  those  of  the  Tussock  Moth;  they  scramble  out  of 
tlie  earth  and  make  for  a  tree  upon  which  to  lay  their  eggs. 
This  is  where  we  can  easily  get  the  better  of  them,  for  we 
have  only  to  put  Tree  Tanglefoot  or  some  other  barrier 
around  the  trunks  of  our  trees  and  there  will  be  no  little 
Pometarias  next  spring.  But  there  are  two  things  to 
remember:  first,  one  can  never  be  quite  sure  when  the 
females  are  going  to  come  out,  for  the\'  may  choose  a  warm 
spell  in  mid- winter;  and  second,  there  is  Paleacrita  vernata 
(seep.  196). 

This  pretty  moth  (Plate  LVIII)  has  its 

^y<^"*  wings  zigzagged   with  yellow   and   brown, 

undulata  &  &      bt.  j 

It  gets  a  paragraph  because  or   its  nest. 

The  female  lays  a  cluster  of  eggs  in  early  summer  on  a 

terminal  leaf  of  wild  cherry.     I  do  not  know  just  how 

they  do  it  but  the  larvae  fasten  together  the  leaves  at  the 

end  of  the  twig  and  the  whole  family  feeds  on  the  walls 

of  the  nest.     When  these  walls  are  nearly  eaten,  the  larvae 

bend  other  leaves  and  fasten  them  against  the  nest  so  that 

they  may  have  fresh  walls  to  eat.     Finally  they  all  leave 

to  pass  the  winter  underground  as  pupae.     This  species 

occurs  also  in  Europe,  but  probably  it  is  naturally  on  both 

sides  of  the  Atlantic  and  not  because  of  man's  migrations. 

The  adult  (Plate  LVIII)  is  a  delicate 
Synchlora  ^^-^^  green  and  the  wings  are  crossed   by 

two  lighter  lines.  This  description  will  fit 
many  species  of  the  subfamily  Geometrinae,  but  to  make  it 
more  definite  without  becoming  technical  would  be  diffi- 
cult. At  any  rate,  it  is  the  larva  which  is  of  interest  here. 
It  feeds  on  the  fruit,  and  also  on  the  foliage,  of  raspberry 
and  blackberry.  Like  its  relatives  on  the  daisies  (see 
p.  194)  it  covers  itself  with  a  heap  of  rubbish  fastened  to 
its  back  with  silk. 

The  larvae  of  the  Currant  Span-worm 
Cymatophora  ^p^^^^  LVIII)  feed  on  the  leaves  of  goose- 
nbeana  ,1  r  111 

berry  as  well  as  of  currant  bushes;  they  are 

yellow  and  plentifully  spotted  with  dark  brown.     They 

195 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


hatch  in  spring,  just  as  the  leaves  are  expanding,  pupate 
underground  about  a  month  later,  and  the  pale  yellow, 
marked  with  brown,  moths  emerge  several  weeks  later,  say, 
in  early  July.  The  eggs  are  laid  on  the  twigs  of  their  food 
plant,  usually  near  a  crotch,  but  they  do  not  hatch  until 
the  next  spring.  The  eggs  are  ovoid,  deeply  pitted,  and 
blue-green  in  color. 

This  is  the  Spring  Canker-worm   (Plate 

Paleacrita  LVIII).     According     to     Slingeriand     and 

vernata  ^       ^  ,  i.  ,,        .    . 

Crosby,  the  term  cancer-worme  origi- 
nated in  England  in  1 530  and  was  used  for  several  different 
insects  in  the  first  authorized  English  version  of  the  Bible 
in  161 1.  In  1 66 1  John  Hull  said  "the  canker-worm  hath 
for  four  years  devoured  most  of  the  apples  in  Boston,  that 
the  trees  look  in  June  as  if  it  was  the  9th  month."  For 
a  long  time  pometarta  (see  p.  194)  was  not  distinguished 
from  vernata.  The  larvae  of  vernata  may  be  ash-gray, 
green,  yellow,  or  even  dull  black;  they  have  much  the  same 
habits  as  those  of  pometarta  but  the  adults  do  not  emerge 
from  the  underground  pupae  until  sometime  between 
February  and  April,  inclusive.  The  male's  wings  are 
silky  gray.  The  female  has  no  wings.  She  lays  four 
hundred  or  more  eggs  in  irregular  clusters  in  crevices  of  the 
bark  of  some  deciduous  tree,  fruit  trees  being  favorites. 
These  eggs  are  ovoid,  slightly  ridged,  and  of  an  iridescent 
purple  color.  My  chief  objection  to  this  species  is  that 
it  was  the  excuse  for  the  introduction  of  the  English  spar- 
row. Tree  bands  would  have  been  more  effective  and 
not  such  a  nuisance. 

The     Notched-wing     Geometer      (Plate 
Ennomos  LVIII)  is  the  largest  common  Geometrid 

of  the  Northeast.  The  wings  are  reddish 
yellow,  shaded  and  spotted  with  brown.  It  flies  from 
August  to  November.  The  larva,  which  gets  to  be  more 
than  two  inches  long,  feeds  on  maple,  chestnut,  birch,  and 
other  leaves.  It  spins  a  dense,  spindle-shaped  cocoon 
within  a  cluster  of  leaves. 


196 


Plate  LVIII 


Alsophila  pometaria 


PoleQCritQ  verriQtQ 


HydriQ  undulata 


CymatophopQ 
ribeariQ 


Ennomos  magnQrlus 
197 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


M ICRO  -LePIDO  PTERA 

Under  the  above  term,  "Micros"  for  short,  are  roughl}- 
grouped  a  number  of  families  of  moths.  Not  onl}'-  is  the 
division  not  very  satisfactory  from  a  scientific  standpoint, 
but,  practically,  many  Macros  are  smaller  than  some 
Micros.  The  term  super-family  Tineoidea  is  sometimes 
used.     The  families  of  moths  which  follow  are  Micros. 

PSYCHIDiE 

Plate  LIX  shows  a  bag  such  as  is  fre- 

Thyridopteryx  _  q^e^tly   noticed   on   many   sorts   of  trees, 

ephemeraeformis  ,      .  ,  ,  ..  ^^    .  .         . 

deciduous  and  comierous.     it  is  made  of 

silk  in  which  are  fastened  leaves  or  bits  of  stick.  If  wc 
examine  such  bags  during  the  winter,  we  will  find  many  of 
them  to  be  empty  but  others  will  be  found  full  of  soft 
yellow  eggs.  Riley,  one  of  our  pioneer  economic  entomo- 
logists, wrote  as  follows:  "Those  which  do  not  contain 
eggs  are  the  male  bags  and  his  empty  chrysalis  skin  is 
generally  found  protruding  from  the  lower  end.  About  the 
middle  of  next  May  these  eggs  will  hatch  into  active  little 
worms,  which  from  the  first  moment  of  their  lives,  com- 
mence to  form  for  themselves  little  bags.  They  crawl 
on  to  a  tender  leaf,  and,  attached  to  their  anterior  feet 
with  their  tails  hoisted  in  the  air,  they  spin  around  them- 
selves a  ring  of  silk,  to  which  they  soon  fasten  bits  of  leaf. 
They  continue  adding  to  the  lower  edge  of  the  ring,  pushing 
it  up  as  it  increases  in  width,  till  it  reaches  the  tail  and 
forms  a  sort  of  a  cone.  As  the  worms  grow,  they  continue 
to  increase  their  bags  from  the  bottom,  until  the  latter 
become  so  large  and  heavy  that  the  worms  let  them  hang 
instead  of  holding  them  upright,  as  they  did  while  they 
were  young.  This  full  grown  condition  is  not  attained', 
however,  without  critical  periods.  At  four  different 
times  during  their  growth  these  worms  close  up  the  mouths 
of  their  bags  and  retire  for  two  days  to  cast  their  skins  or 
moult,  as  is  the  nature  of  their  kind,  and  they  push  their 
old  skins  through  a  passage  which  is  always  left  open  at  the 
extremity  of  the  bag,  and  which  also  allows  the  passage  of 
excrement.    During  their  growth  they  are  very  slow  travel- 

198 


BAG-WORMS. 

lers  and  seldom  leave  the  tree  on  which  they  were  born, 
but  when  full  grown  they  become  quite  restless,  and  it  is 
this  time  that  they  do  all  their  travelling,  dropping  on  to 
persons  by  their  silken  threads  and  crossing  the  sidewalks 
in  all  directions.     A  wise  instinct  urges  them  to  do  this^ 
for  did  they  remain  on  one  tree,  they  would  soon  multiply 
beyond  the  power  of  that  tree  to  sustain  them  and  would 
in  consequence  become  extinct.     When  they  have  lost 
their  migratory  desires,  they  fasten  their  bags  very  securely 
by  a  strong  band  of  silk  to  the  twigs  of  the  tree  on  which 
they  happen  to  be.     A  strange  instinct  leads  them  to  thus 
fasten  their  cocoons  to  the  twigs  only  of  the  trees  they 
inhabit,  so  that  these  cocoons  will  remain  secure  through 
the  winter,  and  not  to  the  leaf-stalk  where  they  would  be 
blown  down  with  the  leaf.     After  thus  fastening  their 
bags,  they  line  them  with  a  good  thickness  of  the  same 
material,  and  resting  awhile  from  their  labors,  at  last 
cast   their   skins  and   become   chrysaHds.     Hitherto   the 
worms  had  all  been  alike,  but  now  the  sexes  are  distinguish- 
able, the  male  chrysalis  being  but  half  the  size  of  the  female 
chrysaHs.     Three  weeks  afterwards  [late  August  or  early 
September]  a  still  greater  change  takes  place,  the  sexes 
differentiating    still    more.     The    male    chrysalis    works 
himself  down  to  the  end  of  his  bag  and,  hanging  half- 
way out,  the  skin  bursts  and  the  moth  with  a  black  body 
and  glassy  wings  escapes,  and  when  his  wings  are  dry, 
soars  through  the  air  to  seek  his  mate.     She  never  leaves 
her  case,  but  issues  from  her  chrysalis  in  the  shape  of  an 
abortive,  footless,  and  wingless  affair  and  after  copulat- 
ing, works  herself  back  into  the  chrysaHs  skin,  fills  its  upper 
but  posterior  end  with  eggs  and  stops  up  the  other  end 
with  what  little  there  is  left  of  her  body  when  she  gets 
through." 

Oiketicus  abboti  of  the  Southern  States  places  short 
pieces  of  twigs  across  the  bag,  making  sort  of  a  log  cabin. 

The  larvse  of  the  small  family  Lacosomidae  also  make 
cases  of  leaves  and  silk.  These  "bags"  are  rather  widely 
open  at  both  ends.  They  are  not  usually  common,  but 
are  to  be  looked  for  on  oak. 


199 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


LlMACODID^ 


The  larvae  of  this  family  are  curious,  slug-like  creatures, 
with  almost  nothing  resembling  legs.  They  crawl  on  their 
flattened  bellies.  Be  careful  about  handling  them,  if 
they  have  spines,  as  these  are  easily  broken  off  and  are 
extremely  irritating  things  to  get  in  one's  skin.  Some 
authors  use  "  Cochlidiidae  "  as  the  family  name. 


The   Saddle-back   larva    (Plate   LIX)    is 
stimulea 


*  ^®  often  noticed  by  reason  of  its  curious  shape 


and  color.  It  feeds  on  apple,  pear,  cherry, 
and  other  things,  including  corn.  Its  spines  sting  like 
nettles  but  the  pain  may  be  allayed  by  ammonia  or  bicar- 
bonate of  soda.  The  larvae  are  full  grown  in  late  summer 
and  the  adults  fly  during  June  and  July,  so  that  I  suppose 
the  winter  is  passed  in  a  cocoon  but  whether  as  larva  or 
pupa  I  know  not.  Dyar  and  Morton  (Journal  N.  Y. 
Ent.  Soc,  IV)  figure  the  cocoon  as  a  smooth  ovoid  on  a 
leaf  and  say  that  the  larval  hairs  imbedded  in  it  retain 
their  stinging  qualities. 

See  Plate  LIX  for  the  adult  Green  Slug- 

"    .*  moth.     The   lar\-a   is    bright    scarlet    with 

chlons 

four  blue-black  lines  along  the  back  and  with 

yellow  prickles.  Sometimes,  possibly  it  is  when  a  molt 
is  due,  the  ground-color  of  the  larva  is  brownish  yellow. 
The  cocoon  is  dark  brown,  egg-shaped,  smooth,  and  very 
thin.  The  larva  hibernates  in  this  cocoon,  not  changing 
to  a  pupa  until  spring.  The  adults  fly  in  June  and  July. 
These  adults  may  be  confused,  at  first,  with  those  of  other 
species  of  Euclea. 

"Hag-moth"  refers  to  the  larva  which  is 

o  etron  dark    brown    with    eight,    relatively    long, 

pithecium  _     ,        ,     .    .  ,  ,  .  ,  , 

fleshy,  hairy  appendages,  which  cover  the 

back  and  project  from  the  sides  of  the  larva  and  have  a 

backward   twist,   like  locks   of    disheveled    hair.      They 

are,  in  fact,  fleshy  hooks  covered  with  feathery,  brown  hairs 

among    which    are    longer,    black,    stinging    hairs.     The 

cocoon  is  almost  spherical,  and  is  defended  by  the  hairy 

200 


Pt.ate  LIX 


Euclea 
chions 


^ 


rhyridopteryx  ephemeroeformis 


r 


Sibine  stimulea 


Harrisina  americana 


SLUQ-MOTHS  AND  FLANNEL=MOTH. 


appendages,  which  the  larva  in  some  way  contrives  to 
leave  on  the  outside.  These  tufts  give  to  the  bullet- 
shaped  cocoon  a  nondescript  appearance  and  the  stinging 
hairs  afford  a  very  perfect  protection  against  birds  and 
other  insectivorous  animals.  "Unlike  other  species  of 
Limacodidae,  the  Hag-moth  larvae  do  not  seek  to  hide 
away  their  cocoons,  but  attach  them  to  leaves  and  twigs 
fully  exposed  to  view,  with,  however,  such  artful  manage- 
ment as  to  surroundings  and  harmonizing  colors  that  they 
are,  of  all  the  group,  most  difficult  to  discover.  A  device 
to  which  this  insect  frequently  resorts  exhibits  the  extreme 
of  instinctive  sagacity.  If  the  caterpillar  can  not  find 
at  hand  a  suitable  place  in  which  to  weave  its  cocoon  it 
frequently  makes  for  itself  more  satisfactory  surroundings 
by  killing  the  leaves  upon  which,  after  they  have  become 
dry  or  brown  in  color,  it  places  its  cocoon"  (Hubbard). 
The  larva  is  a  rather  general  feeder  and  has  been  found  on 
most  orchard  trees  as  well  as  on  wild  trees  and  shrubs  in 
late  summer.  The  adults  fly  in  midsummer;  the  female  is 
brownish,  marked  with  yellow;  the  male  is  much  like  that 
of  T.  ephemeraformis  (Plate  LIX)  but  smaller. 

Megalopygid^ 

It  is  the  cocoon  of  the  Crinkled  Flannel- 
Megalopyge  ^^^^  ^j^-^j^  ^^^^  ^j^-^  family  into  the  Ques- 
cnsp^tfl  ,  ,  , 

tion-box  and  crispata  is  the  only  northeastern 

species  which  is  at  all  common — it  is  only  locally  so  in  New 
Jersey,  for  example,  although  it  ranges  from  Massachu- 
setts southward  and  is  found  at  least  as  far  west  as  Minne- 
sota. The  larva  feeds  on  raspberry,  blackberry,  apple,  and 
other  leaves.  Like  other  larvai  of  its  family,  it  is  extra  well 
provided  with  legs,  having  the  usual  three  pairs  on  its 
thorax  and,  according  to  EHot  and  Soule,  seven  pairs  on  its 
abdomen.  It  is  an  oval,  very  hairy  affair;  the  hairs  are 
brown  and  form  a  ridge  along  the  larva's  back  sloping 
off  on  each  side.  The  tough  oval  cocoon  is  fastened  to  the 
side  of  a  twig  very  securely  indeed  and  here  the  creature 
hibernates;  but  what  arouses  one's  interest  is  that  when  the 
moth  emerges,  about  July,  it  does  so  by  lifting  a  flat  circu- 
lar lid  at  one  end  of  the  cocoon.     The  adult  is  a  soft, 

201 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


fluffy,  yellowish  moth,  with  a  wing  expanse  of  about  an 
inch  and  a  quarter  or  a  little  more;  the  front  wings  have 
irregular  brownish  markings  near  the  front  margin  and 
rows  of  fine,  curly,  hair-like  scales;  the  body  is  thick  and 
woolly. 

PYROMORPHIDiE 

These  are  small,  blackish  moths,  often  with  brilliant 
markings,  most  of  our  species  having  a  red  collar. 


Harrisina 


If  you  have  ever  seen  these  lar\'-se  on  the 
leaves  of  grape  or  Virginia  creeper  (Plate 
LIX),  you  will  recall  the  sight,  but  there 
are  other  larvae  which  feed  on  other  plants  in  the  same 
orderly  fashion.  This  species  pupates  in  a  white  oval 
cocoon  undergroimd.  Some  of  the  adults  emerge,  after  a 
pupal  existence  of  only  about  two  weeks,  but  other  pupae 
winter  over.  The  yellow  eggs  are  laid  in  loose  clusters 
of  about  a  hundred  on  the  under  side  of  the  food-plant's 
leaves. 

CoSSIDiE 

The  adults'  appearance  suggests  Sphingidae  but  they 
have  a  very  stnall  head  and  almost  no  tongue ;  furthermore, 
they,  especially  the  females,  are  very  feeble  fliers.  All 
the  strength  seems  to  be  in  the  larvae,  which  bore  in  the 
wood  of  trees.  The  adults  are  sometimes  called  Goat- 
moths,  presumably  on  account  of  their  odor. 

The  Leopard-moth  is  an  immigrant  from 
Zeuzera  Europe,  undesirable  but  interesting,  which 

is  still  largely  confined  to  the  vicinity  of 
New  York  City.  The  adult  male  (Plate  LX)  is  only 
about  two  thirds  as  large  as  its  mate ;  the  semitransparent 
wings  of  each  are  white,  spotted  with  black.  The  grub- 
like larva  is  pale  yellowish,  sometimes  pinkish,  except 
for  numerous  brownish-black  spots.  They  bore  in  almost 
any  tree  and  in  many  shrubs.  If  the  young  larva  starts, 
as  it  usually  does,  in  a  twig  which  is  too  small  for  its  con- 

202 


>EaERIID/C  OR  SESIID/C. 


tinued  existence,  it  crawls  out  and  bores  in  a  larger  branch. 
Larval  life  takes  nearly  two  years.  Pupation  occurs  about 
May  in  the  last  larval  burrow  and  adults  emerge  during 
June  and  July.  Each  female  places  well  on  to  a  thousand 
eggs  in  soft,  young  wood  and  in  crevices  of  old  bark. 

We  also  have  native  species  of  Cossidas,  the  commonest 
probably  being  Prionoxystus  rohinicE.  Its  larvae  bore 
chiefly  in  oaks  but  also  in  chestnut,  poplar,  willow,  maples, 
ash,  and,  as  its  name  indicates,  locust.  Lugger  says  the 
larva  is  bad  smelling,  reaches  a  length  of  2.5  inches,  and 
after  about  three  years  of  eating  wood  spins  a  loose  cocoon 
in  its  burrow.  The  adult  female's  wings  expand  about 
2.5  inches;  they  are  gray  with  irregular  black  lines  and 
spots.  The  male  is  hardly  more  than  half  as  large;  his 
front  wings  are  darker  than  the  female's,  and  his  hind 
wings  are  yellowish. 

^GERIID^ 

It  is  sad,  but  apparently  true,  that  Sesiidae,  the  com- 
monly used  name  of  this  family,  must,  according  to  the 
rules  of  the  game,  give  way  to  -^geriidae.  Those  of  you 
who  are  just  starting  are  fortunate  in  not  having  to  un- 
learn that,  at  least,  old  name.  The  wings  of  the  ^geriidae 
are  usually  more  or  less  transparent  and  the  adults  depart 
from  the  usual  habits  of  moths  in  that  they  fly  by  day 
(see  also  Hemaris).  Please  do  not  take  "protective  mimi- 
cry" too  seriously  but  I  quote  Lugger  in  order  to  give  the 
idea.  "Many  of  the  species  of  moths  belonging  here  are 
very  beautiful,  and  most  of  them  are  remarkable  on  account 
of  the  protective  mimicry  exhibited  by  them.  This  close 
resemblance  to  insects  of  different  orders  was  observed 
long  before  the  significance  of  protective  mim.icry  was 
understood.  The  majority  of  the  Sesiidae  mimic  bees, 
wasps,  and  flies.  We  all  know  from  experience  that  bees 
and  wasps  can  advance  some  very  pointed  arguments  to  be 
left  alone,  and  any  other  insect  that  closely  mimics  such 
well  armed  warriors  is  very  apt  to  be  left  unmolested. 
This  mimicry  is  not  simply  a  superficial  one,  since  even 
their  motions,  if  captured  or  disturbed,  are  like  those  of 
the  insects  imitated.     Their  attitude  when  resting,  the 

203 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


sounds  they  produce,  their  hyaline  wings,  their  ringed  body, 
even  the  odor  they  give  off,  all  are  apt  to  warn  us  and  to 
caution  us.  Yet  though  they  pretend  to  sting  they  lack 
the  necessary  organ  for  that  purpose."  The  larvae  are 
all  borers  and,  like  most  concealed  larvae,  rather  uniformly 
yellowish-white  except  for  their  heavily  chitinized  parts, 
such  as  the  head,  which  are  darker.  To  illustrate  the  life 
histories  I  have  selected  some  of  those  species  which  may 
be  Uving  in  our  yards.     There  are  many  more  afield. 

The  larva  will  be  found  in  almost  any 

Mehttia  ^  cucurb  but  prefers  squash  or  pumpkin. 
satyriniformis       t     i-  •       ■,  •  ^ 

It  lives  m  the  stems,  causmg  them  to  rot; 

and  Sanderson  states  that  as  many  as  forty  larvae  have 

been  taken  from  one  vine.     When  full  grown  (about  an 

inch  long),  the  larva  leaves  the  plant  and,  going  an  inch 

or  two  below  the  surface  of  the  ground,  spins  a  tough 

cocoon  the  outer  silk  of  which  is  well  mixed  with  particles 

of  earth.     In  the  South  pupation  takes  place  at  once  and  a 

second  generation  appears  in  July  but  in  the  North  the 

larva  hibernates  in  its  cocoon  and  does  not  pupate  until 

spring.     The  pupa  has  a  horn-like  process  between  its 

eyes  which  is  said  to  be  used  in  cutting  the  cocoon.     At 

any  rate,  it  gets  to  the  surface  in  some  way  and  the  adult 

emerges  from  April  to  September  according  to  latitude 

and  other  conditions.     See   Plate   LX;  the  front  wings 

are  opaque,  olive  green,  and  have  a  metallic  luster;  the 

hind  wings  are  transparent;  the  abdomen  and  legs  are 

reddish,  the  former  being  marked  with  black  and  bronze 

and  the  hind  legs  having  a  long  black  fringe.     The  dull 

red,  oval  eggs  are  laid  singly. 

As  the  specific  name  indicates,  this  moth 
Memythrus         bears    some    resemblance    to    the    wasp, 

pohStlformiS  ■„     ,.  r^  t-.i  t  -it-  i  r 

Polistes.  bee  Plate  LX;  the  front  wings 
are  opaque  and  dark  brown;  the  hind  wings  are  trans- 
parent, the  male's  being  rather  yellowish;  the  abdomen  is 
brown,  with  yellow  lines  on  the  second  and  fourth  seg- 
ments; the  legs  and  the  sides  of  the  thorax,  especially  the 
male's,  are  reddish.  Each  female  lays  several  hundred 
chocolate-colored,   finely  sculptured  eggs  with  apparent 

204 


Plate  LX 


ZeuzerQ  pyrina 


MelittiQ  Meniythru5poli5ti|ormis 

SQtyrini[ormis 


9  #/y 

SannmoiQeQ  exitiosQ       '^i'^ 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


carelessness  on  almost  any  vegetation  near  grape  vines. 
These  eggs  are  washed  by  rains  to  the  ground  where  the 
larvae  hatch  and  burrow  into  the  earth  searching  for  a 
grape  root  in  which  to  feed.  The  larval  life  lasts  for 
nearly  two  years,  the  first  winter  being  passed  naked  in  the 
burrow  and  the  second  enclosed  in  a  thin  hibemaculum  of 
silk.  This,  however,  is.  not  the  cocoon,  for  when  spring 
comes  the  larva  works  its  way  to  near  the  surface  of  the 
ground  where  it  makes  a  tough  cocoon  of  earth,  excrement, 
and  silk  within  which  it  changes  to  a  brown  pupa  with  a 
yellow-banded  abdomen.  About  a  month  later  (July  or 
August)  the  pupa  comes  half-way  out  of  the  ground  and  the 
adult  is  freed. 

This    is    the    Raspberry    Root-borer    or 
Bembecia  Blackberry   Crown-borer,   both   names  in- 

dicating the  food  habits  of  the  larva, 
while  the  generic  name  suggests  the  resemblance  which 
some  of  the  adults  of  the  genus  bear  to  certain  wasps 
{Bembex).  The  female  of  this  species  has  a  wing  expanse  of 
about  1.5  inches;  the  front  wings  are  transparent  except 
for  the  brown  margins,  tips,  and  a  band  which  crosses 
each  wing  at  about  two  thirds  of  the  distance  from  the 
base  to  the  tips;  the  hind  wings  are  altogether  transparent 
(except,  of  course,  for  the  veins  and  outer  fringe  which  are 
opaque  in  most,  if  not  all,  species) ;  the  abdomen  is  banded 
with  brownish-black  and  yellow,  the  former  color  pre- 
dominating in  front,  the  latter  behind;  the  legs  are  largely 
yellow.  The  male  is  somewhat  smaller  than  the  female 
and  his  abdomen  has  less  yellow  at  the  hind  end.  The 
moths  emerge  in,  usually,  late  summer;  the  eggs  are  laid 
on  the  canes  close  to  the  ground;  and  the  larvae,  on  hatch- 
•ing,  crawl  down  the  stem  where  they  hibernate  under 
the  bark  just  below  the  surface  of  the  ground.  In  the 
spring  they  start  to  bore  into  the  roots  or  the  base  of  the 
plant,  often  girdling  it.  They  spend  the  second  winter 
in  their  burrows  and  the  following  spring  work  upward 
in  the  plant  to  a  point  above  ground  where,  just  inside  the 
bark,  they  pupate.  About  a  month  later  the  pupa  cuts 
the  bark  with  its  "horn,"  crawls  partly  out,  and  the 
adult  emerges  to  mate  and  start  the  history  anew. 

206 


THE  PEACH-TREE  BORER. 


The  Peach-tree  Borer  (Plate  LX)  is 
Sanninoidea  living  just  outside  my  back  door  and  I 
®^*'°^*  am  not  philosophical  enough  to  enjoy  its 

neighborliness.     I   have  seen  an  estimate  of  $6,000,000 
given  for  the  annual  damage  done  by  it — not  all  on  my 
lot,  of  course.     This  species  ought  to  have  stuck  to  wild 
cherries  and  plums,  which  are  believed  to  have  been  its 
original   food,    although   it   also   feeds   on   willow.      The 
afflicted  trees  display  distress  signals  by  exuding  large    ■ 
masses  of  gum  where  the  larv^  are  working,  which  is 
usually  near  the  surface  of  the  soil.     The  insect  passes  the 
winter  as  a    half-grown  larva.      After  attaining    its  full 
growth  early  the  next  season,  the  larva  leaves  its  burrow 
(usually)  and  makes  its  tinkempt  cocoon  of  excrement, 
pieces  of  bark,"gum,  and  silk  on  the  trunk  of  the  tree  or  on 
the  earth.     About  a  month  later   (which  may  be  from 
June,  or  earher  in  the  South,  to  September)  the  adults 
appear.     They  have  a  wing  expanse  of  an  inch  or  more  but 
the  sexes  differ  markedly  in  appearance.     The  female  is 
dark  steel-blue  (sometimes  with  a  reddish  glint)  except 
for  the  transparent  hind  wings  and  the  orange  band  which 
covers  the  fourth  and,  in  the  North,  the  fifth  abdominal 
segments.     All  the  male's   wings  are   transparent,   with 
blue  edgings  and  blue  crossbands  like  those  of  marginata; 
the   body   is  blue,   banded  with   white  or  light   yellow. 
Each  female  lays  from  200  to  800  eggs,  about  a  fiftieth  of 
an  inch  long  and  much  the  color  of  the  bark  on  which  they 
are  placed.     I  have  never  seen  them  but,  according  to  the 
pictures,   they  are  very  pretty.     I  will  admit  that  the 
adults,   also,  are  pretty.      There    is  a  generation  every 
year.     This  species  does  damage  wherever  peaches  are 
grown  in  this  country,  although  it  is  an  eastern  species; 
on  the  Pacific  coast  it  is  joined  in  the  work  of  destruction 
by  San.iinoidea  opalescens. 

We  can  blame  this  on  Europe,  but  it  is 
Synanthedon  ^^^  ^^y^  naturalized,  having  been  here  for 
tipuliformis  ^^^^^  ^  hundred  generations.     It  also  oc- 

curs in  Asia  and  Australia.  We  would  expect,  from^  its 
name,  that  it  is  very  long-legged,  like  TipuHdae,  but  it  is 
not.     Both  sexes  have  both  pairs  of  wings  transparent 

207 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


except  for  the  golden  markings,  with  purple  reflections. 
The  body  is  dark  purple,  with  three  yellow  abdominal 
bands  in  the  female  and  four  in  the  male.  The  brown, 
spherical  eggs  are  placed  singly  on  currant  stems,  and  the 
larva  works  up  or  down  the  pith.  The  larvse  hibernate 
when  nearly  full-grown;  pupate  the  following  spring  in  a 
silk-lined  cavity  just  under  the  bark;  and  emerge  during 
June  and  July.     There  is  one  generation  a  year. 

Synanthedon  is  the  genus  Sesia  of  authors, 
ynan  e  on  ^j^^  name  Sesia  properly  belonging  to  a 
genus  of  Sphingidae.  The  work  of  this 
species  is  often  confused  with  that  of  exitiosa,  but  pictipes 
prefers  old  trees  with  rough  bark  and  works  more  often 
on  the  trunk  and  larger  branches  than  at  the  base  of  the 
trees.  Its  cocoon  is  similar  to  that  of  exitiosa  but  smaller. 
The  adults,  both  sexes  of  which  resemble  the  male  exitiosa, 
are  also  smaller.  They  fly  during  June  and  July.  It  is 
said  that  this  species  attacks  June-berry  and  chestnut 
in  addition  to  those  three  "favored"  by  exitiosa,  but  it 
rarely  does  much  damage  to  any. 

PVRALIDiE 

This  is  a  large  family  of  small  moths  and,  although  a 
number  of  the  species  are  somewhat  expensive  to  the 
farmer,  he  often  does  not  know  what  is  the  matter.  The 
group  does  not  seem  to  be  a  "popular  "  one.  The  following 
are  samples  of  some  of  the  subfamilies. 

Pyraustinae 

The  wings  are  rather  thinly  scaled.  Most  of  the  species 
are  yellow  and  white.  The  larvae  usually  live  in  webs, 
sometimes  socially. 

The  adult  of  the  Grape  Leaf -folder  does 

esmia  ^^^  have   the   more   or   less  typical   color- 

funeralis  .  ... 

ation  of  the  sub-family ;  it  is  brownish-black, 

with  two  white  spots  on  each  front  wing  and  one  (some- 

208 


PYRALID/E. 

times  divided  in  the  female)  on  each  liind  wing.  The  larva 
feeds  on  the  upper  surface  of  a  grape  leaf,  folding  the  leaf 
over  and  fastening  it  by  strands  of  silk.  Pupation  takes 
place  in  the  folded  leaf.  The  pupae  of  the  second  annual 
generation  hibernate  in  their  retreats,  which  have  fallen  to 
the  ground. 

This  species  is  sometimes  called  "Garden 
^°^-kU^^  Web- worm"   but  it   is  more   at  home  on 

weeds  than  on  garden  plants.  The  markings 
of  the  yellowish  and  grayish-brown  adult  are  difficult  to 
describe  in  a  few  words.  The  thing  which  is  apt  to  attract 
attention  in  the  "field"  is  the  black-spotted,  yellow  larvae 
in  their  fine  web,  which  encloses  skeletonized  leaves. 
They  pupate  in  silk-lined,  underground  cells. 

Larvae  of  Symphysa  adelalis  feed  on  white  lichens  on  the 
trunks  of  oak  and  other  trees,  making  large,  dumbbell- 
shaped  cases  for  themselves  of  the  lichens. 

Larvae  of  Blepharomastix  limata,  between  folded  oak 
leaves. 

Larvae  of  Diaphania  nitidalis  and  hyalinata,  in  stems  of 
Cucurbitaceae. 

LarvcB  of  Pyrausta  theseusalis  web  up  tips  of  ferns;  of 
P.  penitalis,  in  stems  of  lotus  and  cat-tail  (Typha). 


Nymphulinae 

Small,  for  the  most  part  brightly  colored  species,  with 
narrow  wings,  the  front  pair  being  more  or  less  angular. 
Many  of  the  larvae  live  on  water  plants  and  are  semi- 
aauatic.  Their  life  histories  are  probably  interesting  but 
have  not  been  carefully  studied.  The  young  larvae  may 
have  gills.  The  larvae  of  Nymphula  ohliteralis  live  in 
cases  on  the  leaves  of  greenhouse  water-plants. 
^4  209 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Pyralinae 

This  subfamily  contains  some  rather  troublesome 
species  such  as  the  following: 

The  lar\^a  of  the  Meal  Snout-moth  lives 
Pyrahs  -^^    cereals,    flour,    and    clover   hay.     It    is 

whitish,  a  bit  darkened  at  the  ends,  and  has  a 
reddish  head.  It  lives  in  a  long  tube,  which  it  makes  by 
fastening  its  food-material  together  with  silk.  Pupation 
occurs  in  a  cocoon  outside  of  the  tube.  The  adult  has  a 
wing  expanse  of  about  .75  inch.  It  may  be  recognized 
by  the  front  wings,  which  have  chocolate-colored  bases 
and  tips,  separated  from  the  light-brown  central  area  by 
curved  white  Imes.  It  is  rather  generally  distributed 
by  commerce.  There  are  from  two  to  four  generations 
a  year,  depending  on  temperature  and  other  conditions. 

The  larva  of  Hypsopygia  costalis  is  the  Clover-hay  Worm 
and  is  sometimes  injurious. 

Crambinae 

The  narrow  front  wings  are  sometimes  drawn  to  a  point 
and  are  usually  whitish,  ornamented  with  golden  or  silvery 
scales;  the  hind  wings  are  broad  and  without  markings; 
the  palpi  are  very  long.  When  at  rest,  the  wings  are 
wrapped  so  closely  to  the  body  that  the  moths  look  like 
small  cylinders.  The  larvae  live  in  silken  tubes  just 
above  or  below  the  surface  of  the  ground. 

The  larva  of  Prionapteryx  nebulifera  in  the  Jersey  pine- 
barrens  makes  of  silk  and  sand  a  tube  leading  from  an 
underground  retreat  to  the  leaves  of  sand-myrtle  and 
huckleberry  upon  which  it  feeds.  At  night  it  carries 
pieces  of  leaves  to  its  retreat  for  daytime  meals. 

Most  of  the  larvag  of  Cramhus  feed  on  grasses;  that  of  C. 
vulvivagellus  (The  Vagabond,  Plate  LXI)  is  sometimes  very 
destructive,  feeding  by  night,  and  retiring  by  day  to  a 
tube  of  cut  grass  and  silk  just  below  the  surface  of  the 
ground;  C.  caliginosellus  has  similar  habits  and,  especially 
in  the  South,  injures  tobacco. 

Larvae  of  C^.ilo  plejadellus  bore  in  the  stems  of  rice  and 
allied  plants. 

210 


Plate  LXI 


Crambus  vulvivagellus 


ColeophorQ 
lletcherellQ 


OxyplUus    periscelidQclylus 


211 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Galleriinae 


Galleria 
mellonella 


The  adult  Bee-moth  (Plate  LXI)  has  pur- 
plish-brown front  wings  and  pale  brown  or 
yellowish  hind  wings.  The  female  probably 
enters  the  bee-hives  at  night  and  lays  her  eggs  while  the 
bees  are  asleep  for,  when  awake,  they  actively  and  success- 
fully resent  her  presence.  The  larvae  feed  by  night  on  the 
wax  of  the  combs.  They  make  silken  galleries  in  which 
they  hide  during  the  day.  The  tough  cocoons  are  usually 
placed  against  the  side  of  the  hive.  The  Bee-moth  is 
found  almost  everywhere  that  honey-bees  are  kept  but  its 
original  home,  probably  Asia,  is  unknown. 

Phycitinae 

For  the  most  part,  these  are  a  silky  gray.  Nearly  all  the 
larvag  live  in  silken  tubes,  which  may  be  in  the  stems  of 
plants,  in  seeds,  in  flower  heads,  or  in  crtmipled  leaves. 
LcBtilia  coccidivora  feeds  on  the  Tulip  Soft  Scale  and  the 
Cottony  Maple  Scale. 

There  are  many  Leaf-crumplers  but  this 

Mineola  species  is  apt  to  be  noticed  on  home  grounds, 

indiginella  ^  ,  ,  . 

It  has  not  been  troublesome  since  spraying 

for  the  Codling  Aloth  became  general.  The  larvae  feed 
on  apple,  plum,  and  cherry.  In  winter  we  can  find  with- 
ered crumpled  leaves  fastened  to  twigs.  If  these  leaves 
conceal  a  larva  encased  in  a  tube  of  silk  and  frass,  looking 
like  a  small,  much-twisted  horn,  we  probably  have  this 
species.  In  the  spring,  after  banquets  on  yoimg  leaves, 
the  larva  pupates  in  its  case  and  the  adults,  with  silver- 
marked,  pale  brown,  front  wings,  emerge  about  July. 

The  larvae  of  Mineola  vaccinii  is  the  Cranberry  Fruit- 
worm. 

The  Mediterranean  Flour-moth  was  first 
Ephestia  noticed  in  America  about  1889.     It  is  now 

rather  widely  distributed  in  flour,  "feed," 
and  cereals.  The  cylindrical  larva  is  the  color  of  pink 
flesh,  with  sparse,  long  hairs  and  a  reddish-brown  head. 
Not  only  do  the  larvae  destroy  by  eating,  but  they  also 
spin  threads  as  they  move  about,  so  that  the  material  in 

212 


CEREAL-FEEDING  MOTHS. 


which  they  are  becomes  thoroughly  mixed  with  webs. 
The  larvse  are  sometimes  so  abundant  in  flour  mills  that 
the  spouts  and  machinery  become  absolutely  clogged  with 
silk.  The  thin  cocoons  are  usually  placed  on  some  dried 
substance  and  often  have  foreign  material  imbedded  in  the 
silk.  The  wing  expanse  is  somewhat  less  than  an  inch; 
the  front  wings  are  dark  gray  crossed  by  wavy  lines,  the 
V-shaped  marks  near  the  bases  making  a  W  when  the 
wings  are  closed;  the  hind  wings  are  silvery  gray  and  both 
are  fringed  with  long  hairs.  Breeding  continues  through- 
out the  winter  in  warm  places,  giving  as  many  as  four 
or  five  generations  a  year. 

The  common  name,  Indian-meal  Moth, 

.  °  **  „  is  not  inclusive  enough,  for  the  larva  is 
interpunctella  -      .     ,, 

fond  of  all  sorts  of  stored  foods,  including 

nuts  and   raisins.     It  was  called   Indian-meal   Moth   by 

Fitch,  who  found  it  in  corn-meal  in   1856.     The  larva 

can  usually  be  distinguished  from  those  of  similar  habits 

by  a  pale  line  which  divides  the  brown  thoracic  shield  in 

halves;  it  is  an  active  creature  which  goes  backward  about 

as  weU  as  forward  and  it  spins  a  web  wherever  it  goes. 

The  cocoon  is  usually  placed  in  a  crack  or  corner.     The 

wing-expanse  is  a  little  more  than  half  an  inch;  the  front 

wings  are  creamy-white  at  their  bases,  and  reddish-brown, 

marked  with  black,  beyond;   the  hind  wings  are  dingy 

gray  and  fringed  with  long  hairs.     There  are  three  or 

more  generations  a  year,  depending  largely  on  temperature. 

Larvae  of  Acrohasis  demoiella  bore  into  the  ends  of  walnut 
twigs;  of  A.angusella  into  hickory  leaf-stems;  of  A.  carya 
into  the  twigs  of  hickory;  of  A.  ruhrifasciella  live  in  cases 
between  leaves  of  sweet  fern  (Comptonia)  and  of  alder; 
of  A.  hetulella  in  tubes  between  birch  leaves;  of  A.  comp- 
toniella  in  cases  between  the  terminal  leaves  of  Comptonia 
and  Myrica. 

Larvae  of  Pinipestis  zimmermanni  bore  in  pine. 

Larvae  of  Salehria  afflicteUa  live  in  tubes  of  silk  and  excre- 
ment between  leaves  of  sweet  gum. 

Larvae  of  Melitara  prodenialis  bore  in  the  leaves  of  prickly 
pear  (Opuntia). 

Larvae  of  Zophodia  grossularice,  in  gooseberries. 

213 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Larvae  of  Euzophera  semifuneralis  bore  under  bark  of 
plum  and  cherry. 

Pterophorid^ 

If  I  should  ever  take  up  Lepidoptera  as  a  hobby,  I  might 
be  tempted  to  specialize  on  these  delicate  "Plume  Moths." 
The  adults  may  be  recognized  by  the  fact  that  their 
wings,  at  least  the  hind  ones,  are  split  so  as  to  form  plumes; 
they  are  all  small  and  long-legged.  The  larvae  suggest 
miniature  Arctiids  but,  in  addition  to  structural  differ- 
ences, they  may  be  distinguished  from  Woolly-bears  by 
their  habit  of  living  in  tubes  and  loose  webs.  The  pupae 
are  soft,  hairy,  and  hang  by  their  tails  like  butterfly  chrysa- 
lids,  although  a  few  make  an  attempt  at  constructing 
cocoons.  The  family  is  not  a  large  one;  less  than  twenty 
species  have  been  recorded  from  New  Jersey,  for  example, 
and,  with  the  exception  of  periscelidactylus^  none  seem  to 
be  very  common. 

See  Plate  LXI.  Once  again  we  quote 
Oxyptilus  peri-  ^^^^  Riley's  model  reports  on  the  Noxious, 
beneficial  and  other  insects  of  the  State  of 
Missouri:  "The  larva  of  the  Grape-vine  Plume  invariably 
hatches  soon  after  the  leaves  begin  to  expand ;  and  though  it 
is  very  generally  called  the  Leaf-folder  (from  the  fact  that 
the  larvae  live  in  a  nest  made  by  folding  several  leaves  to- 
gether) ,  it  must  not  be  confounded  with  the  true  Leaf -folder 
[Psychomorpha  epimensis  of  the  Agaristidae],  which  does  its 
principal  damage  later  in  the  season.  At  first  the  larva 
of  our  Plume  is  smooth  and  almost  destitute  of  hairs,  but 
after  each  moult  the  hairs  become  more  perceptible,  and 
when  full  grown  the  larva  [has]  hairs  arising  from  a  trans- 
verse row  of  warts,  each  joint  having  four  above  and  six 
below  the  breathing  pores.  After  feeding  for  about  three 
weeks,  our  little  worm  fastens  itself  securely  by  the  hind 
legs  to  the  underside  of  some  leaf  or  other  object,  and, 
casting  its  hairy  skin,  transforms  to  the  pupa  state.  This 
pupa,  with  the  lower  part  of  the  three  or  four  terminal 
joints  attached  to  a  little  silk  previously  spun  by  the 
worm,  hangs  at  a  slant  of  about  40^.  It  is  of  peculiar 
and  characteristic  form,  being  ridged  and  angular,  with 

214 


TORTRICID/E:    LEAF=ROLLERS. 


numerous  projections,  and  having  remnants  of  the  larval 
warts;  it  is  obliquely  truncated  at  the  head,  but  is  chiefly 
distinguished  by  two  compressed  sharp-jointed  horns; 
it  measures,  on  an  average,  rather  more  than  one-third 
inch,  and  varies  in  color  [according  to  the  color  of  the  back- 
ground on  which  it  is  formed]  from  light  green  with  darker 
green  shadings,  to  pale  straw-color  with  light  brown  shad- 
ings. .  .  .  The  moth  escapes  from  this  pupa  in  about  one 
week,  and,  like  all  the  species  belonging  to  the  genus,  it 
has  a  very  active  and  impetuous  flight,  and  rests  with  the 
wings  closed  and  stretched  at  right  angles  from  the  body, 
so  as  to  recall  the  letter  T.  It  is  of  a  tawny  yellow  color, 
the  front  wings  marked  with  white  and  dark  brown,  the 
hind  wings  appearing  like  burnished  copper,  and  the  legs 
being  alternately  banded  with  white  and  tawny  yellow." 
We  have,  in  the  Northeast,  a  species  of  a  related  family, 
Orneodid^.  It  is  called  Orneodes  hexadactyla,  each  wing 
being  divided  into  "six  fingers,"  making  twenty-four 
altogether. 

TORTRICIDiE 

Like  Pyralidae,  this  is  a  large  family  of  small  moths.  It 
gets  its  name  from  the  habit,  which  many  of  its  members 
have,  of  rolling  leaves  in  order  that  they  may  have  a 
sheltered  place  in  which  to  feed.  However,  not  all  Tortri- 
cid  larvae  roll  leaves  and  not  all  leaf-rollers  are  Tortricids. 
The  front  wings  are  rather  broad  and  usually  square-cut 
at  the  outer  end.  When  at  rest,  the  wings  are  folded 
against  the  body.  The  following  are  examples  of  the 
principal  subfamilies. 

Olethreutinae 

The  worm  of  most  wormy  grapes  is  the 

o  yc    osis         larva  of  this  species.     If  no  accident,  such 
viteana  i     •  i 

as  bemg  eaten  by  humans,  happens  to  this 

larva,  it  will  leave  the  grape  berry  and  go  to  a  leaf.     Here 

it  cuts  a  little  flap,  puUs  the  flap  over  and  fastens  it  down 

to  the  main  leaf  with  silk;  the  inside  is  then  Hned  with 

silk  and  within  this  snug  retreat  the  larva  pupates.     When 

this  operation  is  carried  on  near  the  middle  of  the  leaf, 

two  flaps  are  cut  and  drawn  together  to  make  the  shelter. 

215 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Finally,  the  frosts  drop  the  leaf  and  winter  is  passed  on 
the  ground.  The  first  annual  generation  of  adults 
emerges  about  June  first.  They  are  purpHsh-brown  moths 
with  a  wing-expanse  of  somewhat  less  than  half  an  inch. 
The  first-generation  larvae  feed  on  the  grape  blossoms  and 
young  grapes,  making  a  slight  web  about  them.  They 
pupate  as  described,  and  the  second-generation  adults 
emerge  in  mid-summer.  Occasionally  there  is  a  third 
generation. 

^^    ^^  ''     Most  of  us  have  heard  of  the  Codling 

pom^nelJr    ■•    ^°*^   °^   Apple-worm    (Plate    LXII)    and 
nearly  all  of  us  have  bitten  into  its  larval 
galleries.     Like  the  majority  of  our  insect  pests,  it  came 
to  us  from  Europe,   in  its   case  about   1750.     In    1909 
Quaintance  estimated  that  it  destroyed  annually  $12,000,- 
000   worth  of   fruit  and   that  $4,000,000  were  expended 
annually  in  attempts  to  control  it,  not  counting  the  salaries 
of  professional   entomologists!     Mature  larvse   pass   the 
winter  in  cocoons  placed,  usually,  on  trunks  of  trees  and 
rendered  less  conspicuous  by  having  bits  of  bark  mixed 
with  the     silk.     The  larvae  pupate  in  the  spring,  some- 
times leaving  their  hibernaculum  to  spin  a  new,  thinner 
»  cocoon,   and  at  other  times  merely  breaking  open   the 
hibernaculum  and  closing  it  again  with  a  thin  layer  of 
silk  through  which  the  pupa  can  push  in  order  to  free 
the  adult.     These  adults,  which  have  a  wing  expanse  of 
about   .75  inch  and  fly  just  after  apple-blossom  time, 
are   well   described   by   Slingerland  and   Crosby:     "The 
front  wings  have  the  general  appearance  of  watered  silk, 
this  effect  being  produced  by  alternating  irregular  lines  of 
brown  and  bluish  gray.     Near  the  hind  angle  is  a  large, 
light  brown  area  bounded  on  the  inner  side  by  an  irregular 
chocolate  brown  band  and  crossed  by  two  similar  bands 
of  metallic  coppery  or  golden  color  in  certain  lights.     The 
hind  wings  are  coppery  brown,  darker  towards  the  margin. 
The  sexes  are  very  similar,  but  the  male  may  be  dis-- 
tinguished  by  the  presence  of  an  elongate  dark  area  on  the 
underside  of  the  fore  wing  and  a  pencil  of  black  hairs  on 
the  upper  surface  of  the  hind  wing."     The  scale-like  eggs, 
about  half  the  size  of  a  pin-head,  are  usually  laid  on  the 

216 


Plate  LXII 


CarpocQpsQ 
pomonellQ 


Archips  rosana 


217 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


leaves  and  now  is  the  time  to  start  spraying,  for  the  larvae 
take  a  few  mouthfuls  of  foliage  before  they  bore  into  the 
young  fruit.  This  generation  usually  goes  in  at  the  blossom 
end  of  the  apple  but  later  generations  often  go  in  at  the 
side;  in  any  case  it  is  not  so  much  the  amount  of  apple 
they  eat  that  worries  us  as  it  is  the  difficulty  in  missing 
their  excrement-filled  burrows,  and  themselves,  when  we 
come  to  eat  the  fruit.  Most  of  the  larvae  leave  their 
burrows  before  the  apple  falls,  and  crawl  down  the  limb 
to  a  suitable  place  for  making  a  cocoon.  There  are  from 
one  to  three,  or  more,  generations  a  year,  depending  on 
climate.  While  this  is  distinctly  an  apple-worm,  it  feeds 
also  on  pears,  quinces,  and  even  English  walnuts.  It  is 
found  pretty  nearly  everywhere  that  apples  are  grown. 

Mexican  "jumping  beans"  are  usually  seeds  of  a  species 
of  Croton  which  contain  a  wriggling  larva  of  Carpocapsa 
saltitans.  Kellogg  says  that  another  Tortricid  larva, 
Grapholitha  sebastianice,  has  similar  habits. 

Larvae  of  the  genus  Rhyacionia  feed  in  the  shoots  or 
bark  of  pines  and  hibernate  in  the  shoots  or  in  the  masses 
of  exuded  resin. 

Larvae  of  Polychrosis  Uriodendrana,  in  silken  tents  on  the 
under  surface  of  tulip-tree  leaves;  of  P.  magnoliana,  in 
tents  on  the  under  surface  of  magnolia  leaves. 

Larvae  of  Cymolomia  exoleta  crumples  gooseberry  leaves; 
of  C.  inornatana  crumples  wild  cherry  leaves. 

Larvae  of  Olethreutes  daeckeana,  in  stalks  and  leaves  of 
the  pitcher  plant  (Sarracenia) ;  of  0.  cyanana,  in  rose  shoots; 
of  0.  hehesana,  in  seed  pods  of  Tigridia,  Iris,  and  other 
plants;  of  0.  hemidesma  bind  together  leaves  and  make 
galleries  in  flower  spikes  of  Spiraea;  of  0.  chionosema  twist 
apple  leaves. 

Larv^ae  of  Pseudogalleria  ininiicella,  in  stems  of  cat-briar 
{Smilax) . 

Larvae  of  Eucosma  cataclystiana,  in  stems  of  rag-weed 
(Ambrosia);  of  E.  strenuana  make  spindle-shaped  galls  in 
Ambrosia  stems;  of  E.  otiosana,  in  stems  of  beggar- ticks 
(Bidens) ;  of  E.  suffusana  (an  introduced  European  species), 
in  flower  buds  and  on  young  leaves  of  cultivated  roses; 
of  E.juncticiliana,  in  goldenrod  stems;  of  E.  dorsisignatana, 
in  roots  of  the  same;  of  E.  nisella,  in  willow  catkins;  of 

2l8 


TORTRICID/E. 

E.  scudderiana,  desertana,  and  possibly  obfuscana,  in  galls 
on  the  stems  of  goldenrod  but  the  galls  themselves  are 
probably  made  by  Gnor  into  schema  gallcesolidaginis;  of  E. 
tripartitajia,  in  Cecidomyid  galls  on  stems  of  Black-eyed 
Susan  (Rudbeckia). 

Larvae  of  Cydia  sigftatana,  in  tubes  of  silk  and  excrement 
under  a  web  on  underside  of  maple  leaves;  of  C.  timidella, 
in  similar  tubes  on  underside  of  oak  leaves. 

Larvae  of  Episimus  argutanus  twist  leaflets  of  sumac 
and  leaves  of  other  plants  into  a  spiral  tube. 

Larvae  of  Proteoteras  cesculanum,  in  stems  of  horse- 
chestnut  leaves. 

Larv^  of  Enarmonia  piceafoliana  and  ratzeburgiana 
mine  spruce  needles;  of  E.  pyricolana,  in  rosebuds. 

Larvae  of  Ancylis  comptana  roll  strawberry  (chiefly), 
blackberry,  and  raspberry  leaves;  of  A.  platanana  make 
tents  between  veins  of  underside  of  sycamore  leaves. 

Larvae  of  Laspeyresia  caryana,  on  hulls  of  hickory  and 
walnut;  of  L.  prunivora,  in  thorn  apples  (CratcBgus);  of 
L.  nigricana,  in  pods  of  cultivated  peas. 

Larvae  of  Ecdytolopha  insiticiana,  in  gall-like  swellings 
in  twigs  of  locust. 

Larvae  of  MelUsopus  latiferreana,  in  fallen  acorns. 

Larvae  of  Rhopobota  vacciniana,  the  Vine-worm  or  Black- 
head, on  cranberry. 

Larvae  of  Spilonota  ocellana,  in  buds  of  apple  and  other 
fruit  trees. 

Larvae  of  Phthinolophus  indentanus  web  leaves  of 
huckleberry  and  bayberry. 

Tortricinae 

The  larvae  of  Peronea  minuta  is  the  Fire- worm  or  Yellow- 
head  of  the  cranberry. 

Larvae  of  Cenopis  saracana  crumple  leaves  of  sassafras; 
of  C.  testulana  fasten  together  wild  cherry  leaves. 

Larvae  of  Ar chips  fervidana  make  nests  on  oak  and 
cherry,  sometimes  "thousands"  join  together  and  web 
up  an  entire  bush  or  small  tree. 

The  larvcB  of  A.  rosana  (Plate  LXII)  feed  on  the  leaves 
of  currant  and  other  small  fruits,  orchard  and  shade  trees. 

219 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Larvae  of  Eulia  pinatubana  live  in  tubes  made  by  fasten- 
ing together  the  needles  of  white  pine  and  then  feed  on 
the  outer  ends. 


We  now  come  to  a  series  of  families  which  contain 
"really  righty"  m^'cro-lepidoptera,  but,  as  Smith  said, 
"many  of  them  are  veritable  gems  of  beauty,  far  exceeding 
in  brilliancy  and  richness  their  relatives  of  larger  size." 
The  larvae  are  largely  miners  in  leaves. 

"And  there's  never  a  blade  nor  leaf  too  mean 
To  be  some  happy  creature's  palace." 

Yponomeutid^ 

Larvae  of  Plutella  maculipennis  are  common  on  cabbage 
and  other  crucifers;  the  pupae  can  be  easily  seen  through 
the  delicate,  lacy  cocoons  on  the  cabbage  stalks. 

Larvae  of  Argyresthia  thuiella  mine  arbor- vitae  leaves. 

Gelechiid^ 

The  Angoumois  Grain-moth  is  another 
Sitotroga  pestiferous  importation  from   Europe  and 

"receives  its  name  from  the  fact  that  in 
1760  it  Vv-as  found  to  swarm  in  all  the  wheat-fields  and 
granaries  of  Angoumois  and  of  the  neighboring  provinces 
[of  France],  the  afflicted  inhabitants  being  deprived  of  their 
principal  staple,  and  threatened  with  famine  and  pestilence 
from  want  of  wholesome  bread."  It  apparently  landed  in 
North  Carolina  about  1730.  The  larvae  feed  within  the 
seeds  of  wheat,  corn,  oats,  rye,  barley,  sorghum,  and  cow- 
peas,  eating  to,  but  not  through,  the  surface.  The  creature 
hibernates  as  a  larva  wrapped  in  silk,  and  pupates  in 
the  spring.  The  adult,  which  resembles  the  ordinary 
clothes-moth,  emerges  in  May  or  June  and  oviposits  on 
the  young  grain-heads.  There  are  two  or  three  generations 
a  year. 

Larvae  of  Metzneria  lapella  feed  on  seeds  of  burdock, 
hibernating  in  the  burs. 

Larvae  of  Platodora  similiella,  in  sunflower  heads. 

220 


"REAL  MICROS.' 


Larvae  of  Telphusa  helangerella  are  rollers  of  alder 
leaves. 

Larvae  of  Aristotelia  roseosuffusella  mine  red-clover 
leaves  and  live  also  in  fruit  panicles  of  sumac ;  of  -4 .  fungi' 
vorella  web  leaves  of  bayberry. 

Larvas  of  Recurvaria  apicitripunctella,  in  hemlock  leaves; 
of  R.  piceaella,  in  spruce  leaves;  of  R.  obliguistrigella  and 
juniperella,  in  juniper  leaves;  of  R.  thujaella,  in  arbor- vitas 
leaves,  sometimes  making  the  trees  look  burned;  of  R. 
robiniella  each  fasten  flatly  together  two  leaves  of  locust. 

Larvae  of  Trypanisma  prudens,  under  a  slight  web  on 
upper  side  of  oak  leaves. 

Larvae  of  Paralechia  piiiifoliella  mine  needles  of  Pinus 
rigida;  of  P.  cristifasciella,  between  spun-together  oak 
leaves. 

Larvae  of  Phthorimcea  operculella  mine  stored  potatoes. 

Larvae  of  Gnorimoschema  gallcEsolidaginis  make  spindle- 
shaped,  gall-like  swellings  in  goldenrod  {Solidago)  stems; 
of  G.  solidaginella  have  similar  habits  but  are  said  to  be 
confined  to  Solidago  sempervirens;  of  G.  buskiella  and 
gallcEsteriella  make  galls  in  aster  stems. 

Larvae  of  Anacampsis  innocuella,  in  curled  leaves  of 
poplar;  of  A.  lupinella,  in  folded- together  leaves  of  Lupinus 
perennis. 

Larvce  of  Gelechia  serotinella  each  fasten  together  the 
edges  of  a  wild  cherry  leaf  and  live  within  a  tube  of  silk 
and  frass  placed  in  the  fold. 

SXENOMATIDiE 

Adults  of  Stenoma,  when  at  rest,  resemble  gray  and 
white  bird  droppings. 

(ECOPHORID^ 

Larvae  of  Eumeyrickia  trimaculella,  in  spruce  stumps. 

Adults  of  Agnopteryx  and  Despressaria  often  hibernate 
in  outhouses,  piles  of  brush,  and  the  like.  Larvae  of  A. 
pulvipennella,  in  leaves,  folded  lengthwise,  of  Solidago  and 
Eupatorium;  of  A.  robiniella,  in  similarly  folded  leaves  of 
locust.  Larvs  of  D.  cinereocostella  fasten  together  leaves 
of  water  parsnip. 

221 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


BLASTOBASIDiE 


Smith  wrote:  "These  moths  are  usually  small  in  size 
with  a  peculiar  silken  sheen  to  the  prevailing  gray  shade  of 
the  forewings.  The  favorite  time  for  flight  is  an  hour 
before  sundown,  when  sometimes  hundreds  can  be  taken. 
The  larvae  live  in  seeds,  nuts,  and  buds,  as  well  as  Aphid 
and  Kermid  galls."  And  in  connection  with  Valenthiia 
glandulella:  "Almost  every  acorn  found  on  the  ground 
in  midwinter  contains  one  or  more  of  the  larvae  of  this 
species,  often  in  company  with  a  Tortricid  and  a  Coleopter- 
ous larva." 

Elachistid^ 

Quoting  Smith  again,  and  most  of  the 
Coleophora  short  notes  which  I  give  concerning  moths 

are  culled  from  his  Insects  of  New  Jersey:  "As  many 
of  the  species  in  the  adult  stage  are  indistinguishable 
from  each  other,  the  only  reliable  way  to  identify 
them  is  by  breeding.  The  larvae  are  all  case-makers, 
the  cases  distinctive  for  each  species.  In  shape  they 
range  from  slender  flattened  cylinders  to  one  made  of 
clusters  of  flowers.  Almost  every  plant  supports  one  or 
more  species,  many  are  confined  to  grasses,  and  others  live 
in  seed  heads.  In  general,  the  life  histories  are  similar; 
eggs  are  laid  in  summer,  the  larva  makes  a  small  case  in 
which  it  hibernates  in  the  next  to  the  last  stage.  In  the 
earliest  days  of  spring  it  resumes  feeding  for  a  few  weeks, 
moths  issuing  May  to  July."  The  cases  may  be  found 
during  the  winter  attached  to  trunks  and  larger  limbs. 
When  the  trees  leaf  out,  the  larvae  move  to  the  leaves. 
C.  carycefoliella,  cylindrical  dark  brown  case  on  hickory 
leaves.  C.  corylifoliella,  case  flattened,  with  serrate  edges, 
on  hazel.  C.  fletcherella,  small  dark  brown  flattened  case  on 
apple  (Plate  LXI).  C.  laricella,  small  dark  brown  case 
on  larch.  C.  limosipennella,  flat  case,  with  serrate  upper 
edge,  on  elm.  C.  malivorella,  black,  pistol-shaped  case 
on  apple.  C.  pruniella,  large  black  pistol-shaped  case 
on  wild  cherry.  C.  ostryce,  reddish-brown,  flat  case  on 
ironwood.     C.     guerciella,     scimiter-case,     anterior     two 

222 


SOME  LEAF-MINERS. 


thirds  white,  the  rest  black,  on  oak.  C.  vagans,  grayish 
cyUndrical  case  on  grass.  C.  viburnella,  flat  brown  case 
with  upper  edge  serrated  on  viburnum. 

Larvae  of  Batrachedra  salicipomonella,  in  Cecidomyid  and 
Tentheredinid  galls  on  willow  leaves. 

Larvas  of  Ajitispila  cornifoliella  make  blotch  mines  in 
Cortius  leaves;  of  A.  viticordifoliella  make  orange- colored 
blotch  mines  on  wild  grape  ( Vitis  cordifolia)  leaves. 

Coptodisca.  The  larvae  are  leaf -miners  and  some,  at 
least,  pupate  in  a  case  which  they  cut  from  the  epidermis 
of  a  leaf  and  attach  to  a  tree  trunk.  C.  lucifluella,  on 
hickory;  C.  ostrycofoliella,  on  iron  wood;  C.  saliciella,  on 
willow;  C.  splendoriferella,  on  Cratcegus,  apple,  plum,  and 
wild  cherry. 

Larvae  of  Mompha  hrevivittella  and  circumscrtpiella,  in 
seed-capsules  of  evening  primrose;  of  M.  eloisella,  in  stalks, 
during  winter,  of  the  same  plant. 

TlNEID^ 

Most  of  the  larvae  are  leaf-miners,  their  life  being  passed 
in  tunnels  between  the  upper  and  under  surfaces  of  a 
single  leaf,  which,  however,  they  usually  desert  to  pupate 
in  a  tough  cocoon  on  a  twig  or  on  the  ground.  The  shape 
of  the  mine,  as  seen  through  the  leaf,  and  the  kind  of  leaf 
it  is  in  are  frequently  quite  characteristic  of  a  given  species. 
The  following  definitions  are  taken  from  Comstock.  See 
also  Plate  LXIL  The  long,  narrow,  and  more  or  less 
winding  mines  are  described  as  "linear  mines."  Some 
of  these  are  very  narrow  at  their  beginning  and  gradually 
enlarge,  resembling  in  outline  a  serpent;  frequently  the 
larger  end  is  terminated  by  a  blotch-like  enlargement 
suggesting  a  head.  Such  mines  are  termed  "serpentine 
mines."  Other  mines  that  start  from  a  narrow  beginning 
enlarge  more  rapidly  and  extend  in  a  more  or  less  regular 
cun^e;  these  are  "trumpet  mines."  The  mines  of  many 
species  are  mere  disk-like  blotches;  these  are  referred  to  as 
"blotch  mines."  In  some  of  the  blotch  mines  the  epider- 
mis of  one  side  of  the  leaf  is  thrown  into  a  fold  by  the 
growth  of  the  leaf;  these  are  "tentiform  mines."  A 
"tract  mine"  is  merely  a  broad  linear  one.     A  "com- 

223 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


munity"  mine  is  one  in  which  there  are  several  larvae; 
it  is  probably  formed  by  several  blotch  mines  running 
together. 

These  are  among  the  smallest  of  Lepidop- 
Stigmella  ^^j.^^^  some  having  a  wing  expanse  of  not 

over  an  eighth  of  an  inch.  S.  amelanchieriella,  broad 
mines  in  leaves  of  June-berry  {Amelanchier) ;  S.  anguinella, 
narrow,  serpentine  mines  in  oak  leaves;  5.  saginella,  moder- 
ately broad,  serpentine  mines  in  oak  and  chestnut  leaves; 
6*.  carycefoliella,  very  narrow,  whitish  mines  in  hickory 
leaves;  S.  corylifoliella,  long,  narrow,  winding  mines  in 
hazel  leaves;  S.  juglandifoliella,  narrow,  whitish  mines  in 
walnut  leaves;  S.  platanella,  large,  irregular,  blotch  mines 
on  under  side  of  sycamore  leaves;  S.  ostrycEfoliella,  moder- 
ately wide,  tract  mines  in  iron  wood  leaves;  S.  virginiella 
long,  narrow,  track  mines  in  iron  wood  leaves;  S.  platea, 
moderately  wide,  winding  mines  in  oak  leaves;  5.  pomi- 
vorella  mines  in  apple  leaves;  S.  prunifoliella,  narrow  mines 
in  wild  cherry  leaves;  S.  roscBfoliella,  serpentine  mines  in 
sweetbrier  leaves;  S.  ruhifolidla,  blotch  mines,  and  S. 
villosella,  narrow  linear  mines  in  blackberry  leaves. 

Bucculatrix  larvae  are  leaf-miners  when  young  but  later 
feed  externally.  They  hibernate  in  slender  cocoons  which 
have  longitudinal  ribs  or  ridges  and  which  are  usually 
fastened  to  the  trunks  or  large  limbs  of  trees. 

All  the  larvae  are  leaf-miners  and  there 
PhyUonoryter      ^^^    ^    ^^  number     of    species.       The 

or  Lithocolletis     ,,  ,      ,,        .  , 

samples       given    here    represent    a    very 

small  part  of  the  Northeastern  fauna,  oak,  especially, 
being  largely  left  out  of  account  since  it  harbors  so 
many  of  the  numerous  species  which  make  similar 
mines.  Oak:  cincinnatiella  makes  large  community 
mines  on  the  under  side  of  leaves;  conglomeratella, 
leathery,  brown  blotch  mines  on  upper  side  of  leaves; 
tubiferella,  long,  sinuate  band-like  mines,  gradually 
increasing  in  width  and  frequently  crossing,  on  upper  side 
of  leaves.  Chestnut:  macrocarpella,  upper  side  of  leaves 
(also  on  oak);  kearfottella,  narrow  mines  on  under  side, 
usually  along  a  vein.    Maple:  lucidicostella,  on  under  side; 

224 


SOME  LEAF=MINERS. 


saccharella,  irregular  blotch  mines  on  upper  side;  aceriella, 
broad  tract  mines  on  upper  side  of  leaves.  Birch :  hetuli- 
vora,  small,  nearly  circular  mines  on  upper  side;  lentella, 
community  mines  on  upper  side  of  leaves  (also  on  iron- 
wood).  Ironwood:  obscuriocostella,  under  side;  ostrya- 
foliella,  also  on  under  side  but  mine  is  much  wrinkled  and 
usually  near  the  margin  of  the  leaf;  tritcenianella,  rather 
large  tent  mines  on  upper  side  of  leaves;  ostryarella,  com- 
munity mines  on  upper  sides  of  leaves,  also  on  horn-beam. 
Locust:  ostensackenella,  yellow  blotch  mines  on  both 
surfaces  of  leaves;  there  are  other,  more  common  ones, 
but  they  are  hard  to  differentiate.  Hickory:  carycBfoliella, 
upper  side  of  leaves.  Basswood:  lucetiella  under  side; 
tilieacella  nearly  circular  tent  mines  on  upper  side  of 
leaves.  Elm:  argentinotella,  under  side;  ulmella,  irregular 
blotch  mines  on  upper  side  of  leaves.  Poplar:  salici- 
foliella,  under  side  of  leaves;  this  species  and  others  occur 
on  willow;  populiella,  very  small  tent  mine  on  under  side 
of  leaf.  Alder:  auronitens,  rounded,  flattened  mines  on 
under  side  of  leaves.  Hazel:  corylisella,  blotch  mines 
on  upper  side  of  leaves.  Witch-hazel:  hamamelis,  whitish 
blotch  mine  on  upper  side  of  leaves.  Apple:  malimali- 
foliella,  small,  much  wrinkled,  tent  mine  on  the  under 
side  of  leaves;  there  are  others.  Honeysuckle  (Lonicera): 
fragilella,  under  side  of  leaves.  Poison  Ivy:  guttifinitella, 
upper  side  of  leaves.  This  very  incomplete  list  of  a 
single  genus  might  well  give  us  many  humble  thoughts. 
What  a  world  of  creatures,  each  as  important  in  its  way 
as  we  in  ours,  and  each  doing  its  appointed  task  in  the 
appointed  way ! 

Larvae  of  Gracilaria  arc  all  leaf-miners  when  young; 
some  leave  the  mines  when  half-grown  and  form  cones 
by  twisting  and  rolling  the  end  of  a  leaf. 

Larvag  of  Parectopa  lespedezcefoliella  mine  leaves  of  bush 
clover  {Lespedeza). 

The  larv^as  of  Ornix  turn  over  the  edge  of  a  leaf,  forming 
a  flap,  three  or  four  often  being  present  on  one  leaf;  the 
cocoon  is  spun  on  the  ground  and  the  imago  does  not 
issue  until  the  following  spring.  0.  giittea  (abundant) 
and  solitariella,  on  apple;  kalmieUa,  on  sheep  laurel  {Kal- 
mia);  preciosella,  on  swamp  huckleberry;  cratagifoliella,  on 

1%  22^ 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


black  thorn;  conspicuella,  on  birch;  prunivorella,  on  wild 
cherry;  quadripunctella,  on  chokecherry. 

Larvae  of  Mamara  salictella  mine  long  lines  in  the  tender 
inner  bark  of  young  willows. 

Larvae  of  Proleucoptera  smilaciella  make  blotch  mines  in 
leaves  of  cat-brier  (Smilax) ;  pupae  in  hammock-like  cocoons 
on  under  side  of  leaves. 

The  larvae  of  the  following  species  of  Pliyllocnistis  make 
long,  winding,  thread-like  mines  in  leaves:  ampelopsiella,  of 
Virginia  creeper;  vilifoliella,  of  grape;  liriodendrella,  of 
tulip  poplar. 

Larvae  of  Tischeria  citripennella  make  trumpet-shaped 
mines  in  oak  leaves;  quercitella,  dentate  mines  on  upper 
side  of  oak  leaves;  solidaginifoliella  mine  goldenrod  leaves; 
malifoliella  make  yellowish-brown  blotch  mines  in  apple 
leaves;  anea,  funnel-shaped  blotch  mines  in  blackberry 
leaves. 

The  larvae  of  Setomorpha  insectella,  an  almost  cosmopoli- 
tan species,  feed  on  hair  and  other  dry  animal  products, 
but,  in  America  at  least,  do  not  often  become  injurious 
in  houses. 

Larvae  of  Xylesthia  pruniramiella,  in  woody  excrescences 
on  plum  trees. 

The  larvae  of  Tinea  feed  on  rotten  wood,  fungi,  dry 
animal  products,  and  the  like.  There  have  been  more 
than  a  dozen  species  recorded  from  New  Jersey  alone, 
although  the  adults  have  very  secretive  habits.  The 
following  species  is  well  known  and  widely  distributed: 

There    are    three    species    of    Clothes-moths    (see    also 
Buffalo-bugs),  each  belonging  to  a  different  genus  but  all 
are  Tineids  and  all  are  Old  World  species  which  have  long 
been  associated    with   man,  "corrupting"    his   treasures: 
Tinea  pellionella  (Plate  LXII)  has  a  case- 
Tr^    11  making  larva,   the  case    being  cylindrical, 

about  as  long  as  the  larva.  Herrick 
writes:  "The  young  larva,  of  course,  soon  finds  its  case 
too  small  and,  as  it  grows,  it  has  to  enlarge  the  case  from 
time  to  time.  This  enlargement  is  done  in  a  very  interest- 
ing manner.  Without  emerging  from  its  case,  the  lar^^-a 
cuts  a  slit  halfway  down  one  side,  thus  forming  a  triangular 

226 


CLOTHES-MOTHS. 


opening.  Into  this  opening  it  inserts  a  triangular  gore 
of  the  woolen  material  upon  which  it  is  feeding.  This 
process  is  repeated  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  case  and 
without  leaving  its  retreat  it  turns  around  and  repeats 
the  same  thing  on  the  other  half  of  the  case.  Thus  the 
case  is  enlarged  in  diameter,  but  it  remains  for  the  larva 
to  lengthen  its  home.  This  is  done  by  additions  to  each 
end  of  the  case.  On  the  outside,  the  case  appears  to  be 
composed  of  fibers  of  the  material  upon  which  the  larva 
has  been  feeding,  but  inside  the  case  is  lined  with  a  soft 
layer  of  fine  silk.  By  transferring  the  larva  to  different 
colored  materials  a  curiously  parti-colored  case  may  be 
obtained,  for  the  insect  will  use  the  various  materials  for 
the  enlargements.  The  larva  completes  its  growth  by  fall 
and  seeks  a  secluded  place  in  which  to  secrete  itself  and 
spend  the  winter  in  a  torpid  condition.  The  larvae  have 
been  observed  to  leave  the  carpets  upon  which  they  were 
feeding  and  drag  their  cases  up  a  wall  fifteen  feet  high  and 
fasten  them  to  the  ceiling.  In  the  spring,  the  larvae 
transform  to  pupae  in  the  cases  within  which  they  have 
lived  during  the  winter."  About  three  weeks  later  the 
moths  emerge.  They  have  a  wing  expanse  of  about 
half  an  inch;  the  front  wings  are  shining,  yellowish  brown, 
with  indistinct  dark  spots;  the  hind  wings  are  lighter  and 
plain;  both  pairs  are  fringed  with  long  hairs.     The  second 

species,  Tineola  hiselliella,  has  a  webbing 
Tineola  larva;  it  makes  no  case  but  feeds,  naked, 

usually  in  a  fold  or  crevice  of  the  material 
it  is  eating  and  often  under  the  web  of  silk  which  it  spins 
wherever  it  goes.  The  cocoon  is  an  irregular  affair  of 
silk  and  food  material,  somewhat  resembling  the  case  of 
pellionella.  The  adult  is  about  the  size  of  pellipnella; 
the  front  wings  are  yellower  and  without  spots;  the  hind 

wings  are  pale.  The  third  species,  Tricho- 
Tnchophaga  phaga  tapetzella,  is,  as  yet,  rather  rare  in 
ape  ze  a  America.     Mr.  Wm.  T.  Davis  has  bred  it 

from  larvae  in  barn-owl  pellets,  but  the  larvae  are  usually 
found  in  fur  robes,  horse-blankets,  upholstering  of  car- 
riages, and  the  like.  It  is  not  so  domestic  as  the  other 
two  species.  The  larvae  burrow  into  their  food-material, 
making  silk-lined  galleries,  within  which  they  eventually 


.i-'/ 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


pupate.  The  adults  have  a  wing  expanse  of  about  three- 
quarters  of  an  inch ;  the  bases  of  the  front  wings  are  black, 
the  rest  being  white,  clouded  with  gray;  the  hind  wings 
are  light  gray ;  the  head  bears  long  white  hairs.  The  larvas 
of  all  three  species  feed  on  hair,  wool,  feathers,  and  almost 
any  fabric  of  animal  origin  except  (?)  silk. 

Larvae  of  Prodoxus  intermedius  bore  in  stalks  of  Yucca 
in  great  nimibers. 

"No  discovery  in  recent  years  has  been 
Pronuba  rnore  interesting  to  students  of  insect  and 

plant  life  than  that  which  was  made  in 
1872  by  Professor  Riley,  of  the  intimate  relationship  which 
subsists  between  the  beautiful  plants,  known  as  Yuccas, 
and  the  genus  of  moths  to  which  the  present  species 
belongs.  It  has  been  ascertained  that  the  fructification 
of  the  various  species  of  Yucca  is  almost  absolutely  de- 
pendent upon  the  agency  of  the  female  moth ;  and,  strangely 
enough,  it  has  also  been  ascertained  that  the  pollination 
of  the  flowers  is  not  the  result  of  mere  accidental  attribu- 
tion of  the  wings  and  other  organs  of  the  insect  when 
engaged  in  seeking  for  nectar  in  the  flower  and  when 
engaged  in  laying  her  eggs,  but  that  she  deliberately 
collects  the  pollen  with  her  mouth,  which  is  peculiarly 
modified  to  enable  her  to  do  this,  and  then  applies  the 
pollen  to  the  stigma  with  infinitely  better  care  than  it 
could  be  done  by  the  most  skillful  horticulturist  using 
the  most  delicate  human  appliances"  (Holland)  The 
moth's  actions  are  not  altogether  altruistic  for  she  lays  her 
eggs  in  the  seed  capsules  and  her  young  feed  on  the  tissue, 
which  would  not  develop  if  she  did  not  pollinate.  When 
full-grown,  the  larva  crawls  out  and  hibernates  in  a  tough 
cocoon  on  or  in  the  ground,  pupating  when  spring  comes. 

The  Hepialid^,  Ghost-moths,  and  Micropterygid^, - 
belonging  to  the  suborder  MICROPTERYGOIDEA,  con- 
tain small,  rare  moths  closely  related  to  the  Trichoptera, 
Caddice-flies ;  see  p.  57.  The  larvae  of  some,  at  least,  of 
the  Hepialidae  bore  in  roots;  those  of  Micropterygid.-^  are 
usually  leaf-miners. 

228 


FLIES :  TWOsWINQED  INSECTS. 


DIPTERA 

Members  of  this  order  are  Mosquitoes,  Gnats,  and 
Flies.  The  last  name  is  applied,  with  modifying  adjec- 
tives, to  many  other  insects,  but  true  flies  never  have  more 
than  one  pair  of  wings.  The  pair  of  small,  knobbed  or- 
gans, called  balancers  or  halteres,  just  back  of  these 
wings,  represents  a  second  pair  of  wings.  The  scale-like 
affairs  above  the  halteres  and  back  of  the  roots  of  the 
wings  are  called  squamce  or  calyptras  (some  authors  call 
them  tegulae  or  alulae) ;  there  may  be  two  pairs,  one  pair, 
or  none.  Eggs  of  Diptera  are  sometimes  called  "nits"; 
the  larvae  are  called  "maggots,"  "wrigglers,"  or  "bots." 
Pupation  often  occurs  inside  the  larval  skin.  About 
10,000  species  are  already  described  from  North  America. 

The  venation  of  the  wings  and  the  arrangement  of  the 
thoracic  bristles  are  important  in  classification;  also  the 
antennae,  which  vary  greatly  from  group  to  group.  Un- 
fortunately there  are  several  systems  of  names  for  the 
veins  and  cells  of  the  wings  but  the  following  (see  Plate 
LXIX)  is  in  rather  general  use.  The  vein  which  forms 
the  front  margin  of,  and  runs  for  a  variable  distance 
around,  the  wing  is  called  the  costal  (or  marginal).  The 
next  vein  back  of  it  is  the  auxiliary;  then  come  the  longi- 
tudinals (first  to  fifth),  the  last  three  of  which  are  often 
branched.  The  cell  between  the  costal  and  auxiliary 
veins  is  the  costal  cell;  that  between  the  auxiliary  and  first 
longitudinal  veins  is  the  subcostal  cell;  then,  in  order  along 
the  margin  of  the  wing,  are  the  marginal,  first  submarginal, 
second  suhmarginal  (between  branches  of  the  third  longi- 
tudinal vein,  if  branched) ,  and  the  more  or  less  numerous 
posterior  cells.  The  central  cell  is  the  discal;  and  at  the 
base,  from  front  to  back,  are  the  first  basal,  second  basal, 
anal  (not  always  present),  and  axillary  cells,  A  cell  is 
said  to  be  complete  when  it  is  entirely  enclosed  by  veins. 

229 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


I  do  not  expect  that  this  brief  discussion  will  satisfy  the 
reader  who  attempts  to  apply  it  to  all  Diptera ;  such  special 
students  should  go  to  special  books  such  as  Williston's 
Manual  of  North  American  Diptera. 

Some  Diptera  have  thread-like  or  feathery  antennse 
with  numerous  similar  joints;  others,  such  as  the  ordinary 
house-flies,  have  stubby  antennas  with  only  three  joints, 
the  third  bearing  an  arista.  This  arista  may  be  bristle- 
like and  either  feathered  or  plain;  placed  dorsally  or  at 
the  tip  of  the  third  joint.  If  it  is  at  the  tip  and  is  rela- 
tively stout,  it  is  called  a  style.  The  forms  of  antennas 
are  numerous  and  varied.  The  space  between  the  eyes 
and  above  the  roots  of  the  antennae  is  called  the  front. 
The  vertex  is  the  top  of  the  head  between  the  eyes. 

The  various  parts  of  the  thorax  have  been  named  and 
are  often  important  taxonomically.  Plate  LXIX  shows 
the  achrostical  (a.)  and  dorsocentral  (d.  c.)  series  of  bristles 
divided  by  the  transverse  suture  (/.  s.).  The  letter  a.  is 
placed  on  the  scutellum. 

The  following  key  divides  ordinary  flies  into  two  sub- 
orders: Nematocera  and  Brachycera.  Another  way  of 
dividing  the  order  is  as  follows:  those  flies  whose  larvae 
have  a  differentiated  head,  and  whose  adults  leave  the 
surrounding  pupal  covering  through  a  T-shaped  opening 
on  the  back  of  the  anterior  end,  or  rarely  in  a  transverse 
rent  between  the  eighth  and  ninth  abdominal  rings,  belong 
to  the  suborder  ORTHORRHAPHA;  those  flies  whose 
larvae  do  not  have  a  differentiated  head,  whose  pupae  are 
enclosed  in  the  hardened  larval  skin  (forming  the  so-called 
puparium),  and  whose  adults  leave  from  the  anterior 
end  through  a  circular  orifice  (the  adults  have  an  oval  or 
crescentic  space,  the  "frontal  lunule,"  above  the  roots  of 
the  antennae,  and  usually  have  a  "ptilinum,"  an  inflatable 
organ  capable  of  being  thrust  out  just  above  the  roots  of 
the  antennae  which  is  used  by  the  adult  in  springing  off  the 
cap  of  the  puparium),  belong  to  the  suborder  CYCLOR- 
RHAPHA.  All  Nematocera  are  Orthorrhapha  and  so 
also  are  all  Stratiomyidas,  Tabanidae,  Leptidae,  Asilidae, 
Bombyliidas,  Dolichopodidae,  and  their  near  relatives 
among  the  Brachycera. 

230 


FLIES:  TWO-WINGED  INSECTS. 


Key  to  the 

FAAilLIES    OF    DiPTERA 

(adults) 

1.  Flies  of  a  leathery  or  horny  structure,  living  as  per- 
manent, blood-sucking  parasites  upon  warm-blooded 
vertebrates;  the  young  (larvae)  are  born  when  nearly 
ready  to  pupate.  Wings  very  often  reduced  or  lacking. 
PUPIPARA  (p.  279). 

Flies  of  a  softer  structure,  not  living  as  permanent 
parasites  upon  warm-blooded  vertebrates  in  the  adult 
condition;  egg-laying,  rarely  giving  birth  to  hatched  larvas. 
Wings  very  rarely  reduced  or  absent 2. 

2.  Antennae  having  numerous  joints  freely  articulated 
with  each  other  (usually  from  8  to  16).  Wings  usually 
without  discal  cell;  the  anal  cell  rarely  narrowed  in  the 
border  of  the  wing.  Palpi  as  a  rule  with  4  to  5  joints. 
Suborder  NEMATOCERA 3. 

Antennae  are  usually  composed  of  3  joints,  usually 
with  a  differentiated  style  or  bristle  (the  last  joint  some- 
times annulated).  Wings  almost  always  with  a  discal 
cell;  the  anal  cell,  if  present,  closed  or  much  narrowed  in 
the  border  of  the  wing.  Palpi  never  with  more  than  2 
joints.     Suborder  BRACHYCERA 13. 

3.  Wings  with  a  spider-web-like  secondary  venation  of 
creased  lines  between  the  ordinary  veins;  slender,  long- 
legged  species BLEPHAROCERIDiE  (p.  246). 

Only  the  ordinary  venation  in  the  wings 4. 

4.  Mesonotum  divided  into  an  anterior  and  a  posterior 
part  by  a  more  or  less  distinct  transverse  suture,  which  is 
very  often  V-shaped.  Legs  very  long  and  slender;  body 
and  wings  elongate,  the  wings  sometimes  with  a  discal  ceU. 
Never  small;  often  very  large TiPULiDiE  (p.  236). 

Mesonotum   not   divided   by   a   transverse   suture. 
Never  very  large,  often  small 5* 

5.  A  complete  discal  cell  present;  the  costal  vein  much 
thinned  beyond  the  tip  of  the  wing;  wings  usually  spotted. 
Medium  sized,  mosquito-hke RhyphiD/E. 

No  discal  cell 6. 

231 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


6.  Wings  almost  always  hairy,  with  only  a  few  longitudinal 
veins  (as  a  rule  3,  rarely  5),  very  often  without  apparent 

cross- veins.     Antennae  long  and  slender 

Itonidid^  (p.  242). 

Wings  always  with  more  than  3  longitudinal  veins  and, 
as  a  rule,  with  apparent  cross-veins.  In  doubtful  cases 
there  are  either  more  than  5  longitudinal  veins  or  else  the 
antennas  are  rather  stout,  shorter  than  the  thorax 7. 

7.  At  least  9  veins  reach  the  margin  of  the  wings,  the 
second  and  fourth  longitudinal  veins  being  forked;  costal 
vein  continuing  all  aroimd  the  wing 8. 

Less  than  9  veins  terminate  in  the  margin  of  the 
wing;  the  veins  never  very  hairy  or  scaly 10. 

8.  Veins  bare ;  second  longitudinal  veins  strongly  arched 
forward Dixid^  (p.  236). 

Veins  including  the  hind  margin,  and  also  body,  very 
hairy  or  scaly 9. 

9.  Wings  ovate  or  pointed,  with  numerous  longitudinal 
veins  and  without  apparent  cross-veins.  Small  or  minute, 
moth-like  flies;  the  wings,  when  at  rest,  held  like  a  roof 
above  the  abdomen Psychodid^  (p.  236). 

Wings  elongate,  narrow,  not  held  roof-like  against  the 
body,  with  the  anterior  cross-vein  near  the  middle  of  the 
wing  distinct CuLiciDiE  (p.  238). 

10.  Antennae  as  a  rule  shorter  than  the  thorax,  rather 
stout,  without  constrictions  between  the  joints.  Body 
often  stout,  not  mosquito-like 11. 

Antennae  long  and  slender,  the  joints  longer  than 
broad.  Second  basal  cell  usually  open  (posterior  cross- 
vein  wanting).     Body  slender,  mosquito-like 12, 

11.  Second  basal  cell  usually  closed  by  a  cross- vein. 
Often  medium  sized Bibionid^  (p.  243). 

Second  basal  cell  open  (or  wanting).  Never  more 
than  .25  in.  long,  with  large  and  broad  wings.     Simuliid^ 

(p-  243). 

12.  Coxae,  as  a  rule,  much  elongate.  All  the  tibiae  with 
apical  spurs.     Ocelli,  as  a  rule,  present.    Mycetophilid^ 

(p.  242). 
Coxae    at    most    moderately    long.     Tibiae    usually 

without  apical  spurs.     Ocelli  absent Chironomid^ 

(p.  241). 

232 


KEY  TO  DIPTERA. 


13.  Antennae  apparently  two-jointed,  with  a  three- 
jointed  arista.  Wings  (rarely  wanting)  with  strong 
anterior  and  much  Ughter  posterior  longitudinal  veins, 
usually  without  discal  cell.  Small,  hunchbacked,  quick- 
running,  bristly  flies Phorid^  (p.  253) . 

Antennae  almost  invariably  with  3  easily  distinguish- 
able j  oints,  the  terminal  one  being  often  annulated .  Di  seal 
cell,  as  a  rule,  present I4« 

14.  Three  nearly  equal  pulvilliform  pads  under  the  tarsal 
claws.     Head  and  thorax  without  strong  bristles 15. 

Only  two  pads  under  the  tarsal  claws,  the  median  one 
wanting  or  represented  by  a  bristly  hair.  Head  and 
thorax  often  with  bristles IQ- 

15.  Squamae  very  large;  thorax  and  abdomen  inflated; 
head  small,  with  relatively  large  eyes Cyrtid^ 

(p.  248). 

Squamae  of  moderate  size  or  small,  or  the  thorax  and 

abdomen  not  inflated 16. 

16.  Third  joint  of  the  antenna  simple,  not  composed  of 
superficial     rings.     Costa    enclosing     the     wing    margin 

beyond    the    tip.     Squamae    very    small,    vestigial 

Leptid^e  (p.  248). 

Third  joint  of  the  antennae  complex,  4-  to  8-ringed, 
rarely  w^th  a  distinct  bristle-like  arista 17. 

17.  Costal  vein  not  enclosing  the  hind  margin  of  the 
wing.     Squamae  small  or   vestigial Stratiomyid^ 

(p.  246). 
Costal  vein  continuing  around  the  hind  margin  of  the 

wing ^°* 

18.  Squamae   conspicuous Tabanid^  (p.  247). 

Squamae  small  or  vestigial Xylophagid^. 

19.  Third  longitudinal  vein  forked,  delimiting  two  or 
more  submarginal  cells 20. 

Third  longitudinal  vein  not  forked,  but  one  sub- 
marginal  cell 25. 

20.  Anal  cell,  when  present,  closed  some  distance  from 
the  hind  border  of  the  wing,  sometimes  absent.  Third 
antennal  joint  usually  with  a  terminal  stjde.  Vertex 
flat  or  convex Empidid^  (p.  252). 

Anal  cell  always  present,  either  open  or  closed  in  or 
near  the  margin  of  the  wing 21, 

233 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


21.  Vertex  flat  or  convex,  the  eyes  not  bulging;  in  the 
males  the  eyes  often  contiguous 22. 

Vertex  sunken,  distinctly  hollowed  out  between  the 
eyes,  which  are  never  contiguous  in  the  males.  Mostly 
large  flies 24. 

22.  Fourth  longitudinal  vein  terminating  at  or  before  the 
tip  of  the  wing.  Three  posterior  cells.  Proboscis  hidden. 
Antennas  without  a  style  or  bristle.  Flies  of  moderate 
or  small  size,  bare  or  scaly Scenopinid/E 

(p.  249). 

Fourth  longitudinal  vein  terminating  beyond  the  tip 

of  the  wing.     Antennae  often  with  a  terminal  style.     Body 

usually  bristly  or  pilose,  sometimes  of  large  size.     Proboscis 

projecting 23. 

23.  Five  posterior  cells  in  the  wing.     Abdomen  rather 

long  and  tapering.     Proboscis  moderately  long 

Therevid^  (p.  249). 

As  a  rule,  4  or  3  posterior  cells  in  the  wing.  Abdomen 
usually  stout,  broad,  hairy,  rarely  very  slender  and  bare. 

Proboscis  often  very  long Bombyliid.-e 

(p.  249). 

24.  Body  without  bristles.  Proboscis  with  fleshy 
labella  at  tip.  Venation  of  the  wing  complicated,  the 
fourth  longitudinal  vein  curves  forward  to  terminate  in 
front  of  the  wing-tip IMydaid.e 

(p.  250). 

Body  bristly.     Proboscis   homy    and   rigid,  without 

fleshy  labella  at  tip.     Venation  of  the  normal  type.  .  .  . 

AsiLiD^  (p.  250). 

25.  Wings  pointed;  no  cross- veins  except  at  the  base; 
second  longitudinal  vein  ending  almost  at  the  tip  of  the 
wing.     Length,  less  than  .2  in Lonchopterid/E. 

Wings  roimded  at  the  tip,  the  second  longitudinal 
vein  ending  before  the  tip  of  the  wing;  cross- veins  present. 
26. 

26.  Anal  cell,  when  present,  short,  closed  some  distance 
from  the  hind  border  of  the  wing,  sometimes  absent 27. 

Anal  cell  elongate,  acute,  either  open  or  closed  toward 
or  near  the  border  of  the  wing.  Second  basal  cell  as  a 
rule  separated  by  a  cross-vein  from  a  complete  discal 
cell 29. 

234 


KEY  TO  DIPTERA. 


27.  Frontal  lunule  and  suture  (ptilinum)  almost  always 
distinct.  Head  and  thorax  very  often  with  bristles. 
Third  antennal  joint  usually  with  dorsal  arista.  Second 
basal  cell  as  a  rule  separated  by  a  cross-vein  from  a  com- 
plete discal  cell.  Numerous  IMuscoid  families.  See  p.  258 
and  following  pages. 

No  frontal  suture.  Second  basal  cell  often  confluent 
with  the  discal  cell,  or  the  discal  cell  absent.  Usually 
small  flies 28. 

28.  For  the  most  part  brilliantly  colored  (metallic  green) 
flies.  Arista  of  the  antennae  dorsal  or  terminal.  Second 
basal  cell  merged  with  the  discal  cell Dolichopodid.e 

(p.  250). 

Color  not  brilliantly  green.     Arista  of  the  antennae 

usually  terminal.     Second  basal  cell  rarely  merged  with 

the  discal  cell Empidid^  (20). 

29.  Between  the  third  and  fourth  longitudinal  veins  and 
subparallel  with  them  a  spurious  longitudinal  vein,  which 
is  rarely  absent.  Usually  brightly  colored  flower-flies, 
rarely  with  bristles Syrphid^  (p.  253). 

No  extra  vein  between  the  third  and  fourth  longitudi- 
nal veins 30- 

30.  Proboscis  elongate  and  slender,  often  folding.  No 
bristles  on  head  and  thorax Conopid^  (p.  257). 

Proboscis  short,  not  projecting.     Small  flies 31. 

31.  Antennae  with  terminal  arista.  Head  and  thorax 
with  bristles Platypezid^. 

Antennae  with  dorsal  arista.  Head  and  thorax  with- 
out true  bristles.     Wings  much  longer  than  the  abdomen. 

PlPUNCLXIDiE. 


235 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


NEMATOCERA 

TlPULID^ 


These  are  the  Crane-flies  or  Daddy  Long-legs — those 
who  complain 

"My  six  long  legs,  all  here  and  there, 
Oppress  my  bosom  with  despair." 

The  long  legs  and  the  V-shaped  suture  between  the  wings 
usually  distinguish  this  family  from  other  true  flies. 
They  are  sometimes  mistaken  for  mosquitoes  and  the  large 
ones — some  are  over  two  inches  long — are  blamed  on  New 
Jersey ;  but  they  do  not  bite.  I  cannot  tell  you  how  to  keep 
the  legs  on  your  specimens.  Chionea  valga  is  wingless 
and  is  found  in  northern  United  States  crawling  about 
over  the  snow.  Bittacomorpha  clavipes  has  black  legs  with 
white  bands;  its  larva  lives  in  shallow,  debris-clogged 
water.  The  larva  of  Tipula  ahdominalis  (Plate  LXIII)  is 
also  aquatic.  The  aquatic  larvae  are  both  vegetarians  and 
camivors.  Tipulid  larvae  are  sometimes  called  "leather 
jackets"  and  many  of  them  are  found  in  decaying  vegeta- 
tion on  dry  land;  others  under  bark  and  in  fungi;  some 
feed,  at  least  incidentally,  on  roots;  and  a  few,  such  as 
Cylindrotoma,  on  the  leaves  of  violets,  anemones,  and 
other  terrestrial  plants.  The  pupae  are  slim  affairs  with 
relatively  short  wing-cases. 

PSYCHODIDiE 

These  thickly  haired  Moth  Flies  are  rarely  more  than  a 
sixth  of  an  inch  long.  They  fly  but  weakly  in  shady 
places,  on  windows,  and  in  outhouses;  and  are  often  abun- 
dant at  lights.  Their  larvae  live  in  decaying  vegetation, 
in  dung,  and  in  water. 

DlXIDiE 

Rather  long-legged,  nearly  hairless  flies.  The  larvae 
are  aquatic  and  resemble  those  of  mosquitoes.  The 
adults  are  usually  found  about  moist  places  in  forests, 
sometimes  dancing  in  swarms. 

236 


Plate  LXIII 


TipulQ  Qbdominalis 


^i'   Simulidae 
237 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


CULICID^ 


Everyone  knows  a  Mosquito,  or  thinks  he  does.  The 
proboscis  of  the  female  is  fitted  for  sucking  but  the  mouth - 
parts  of  the  male  are  rudimentary  (he  cannot  "bite")  and 
his  antennae  are  very  plumose.  The  veins  of  a  mosquito's 
wings  are  scaly,  as  is  also  the  body.  The  larvae  are  aquatic ; 
they  are  the  "wrigglers"  such  as  most  of  us  have  seen  in 
rain  barrels.  Owing  to  the  interest  in  mosquitoes  by 
reason  of  their  connection  with  malaria  and  yellow  fever, 
they  have  been  extensively  studied  and  many  genera 
and  species  have  been  described.  For  most  purposes 
we,  in  the  North,  can  stick  to  the  old  division  into  two 
principal  genera,  Anopheles  and  Culex.     See  Plate  LXIV. 

The  palpi  of  the  adult  female  are  nearly 
Anopheles  ^^  ^^^^  ^^  ^-^^  proboscis,  so  that  her  beak 

appears  to  be  three-pronged  (do  not  mix  in  the  antennae). 
Possibly  other  species  carry  malaria  but  the  only  United 
States  species  which  has  been  definitely  convicted  is  quadri- 
maculatus  {maculipennis  of  some  authors).  Plate  LXIV 
will  help  you  identify  it  but  beware  of  any  three-beaked, 
spotted-winged  mosquito.  When  properly  posed,  it 
holds  the  body  at  an  angle  to  the  surface  upon  which  it 
rests,  the  beak  being  in  the  same  direction  as  the  body. 
It  may  have  previously  sucked  the  blood  of  a  malarial 
patient;  the  malarial  parasite  may  then  have  worked 
its  way  from  the  mosquito's  "stomach"  to  its  salivary 
glands  and  be  ready  for  injection  into  you.  The  eggs  of 
Anopheles  are  laid  singly  in  water.  The  larvas  live  among 
surface  vegetation  in  fresh  water,  usually  where  sewage  is 
absent  and  a  slight  current  prevents  stagnation.  Larvae 
have  been  reported  from  brackish  water  but  in  my  experi- 
ence those  found  near  salt  meadows  were  in  fresh-water 
pools.  They  have  a  short  breathing  siphon  at  the  hind 
end  of  their  body  and  float  parallel  with  the  surface  of  the. 
water.  Adults  hibernate  in  sheltered  places  such  as 
cellars  and  hollow  trees. 

Our  northern  species  are  harmless,  except 
^"'®^  that  the  females  bite;   in  fact,   they   bite 

harder   than    Anopheles  but  they  do  not  carry  malaria. 

238 


Plate  LXIV 


Early  stages 
of  Culex 


LarvQ  of 
Anopheles 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Yellow  fever  is  transmitted  by  calopus,  a  tropical  and 
subtropical  species  of  a  subgenus,  or  separate  genus, 
Aedes.  This  mosquito  has  also  been  called  Stegomyia 
fasciata.  For  the  most  part,  the  species  of  Culex  have 
unspotted  wings;  the  palpi  of  the  female  are  short,  the 
beak  not  appearing  to  have  three  nearly  equal  prongs. 
The  adults  usually  hold  their  bodies  parallel  to  the  surface 
on  which  they  rest,  the  beak  being  at  an  angle.  The 
larval  breathing  siphon  is  long  and  the  larvae  hang  head- 
down  from  the  water's  surface  film.  The  eggs  of  Culex, 
in  a  limited  sense,  such  as  those  of  the  common,  rain- 
barrel  C.  pipiens,  are  laid  in  a  floating,  raft-like  mass. 
Those  of  what  are  now  called  Aedes,  such  as  the  common 
salt-marsh  mosquito  with  banded  legs,  A.  sollicitans, 
may  be  laid  singly  or  in  little  masses  in  the  mud  of  low 
ground,  or  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  sinking  to  the 
bottom  and  usually  passing  the  winter  in  that  stage.  The 
eggs  of  A.  canadensis  commonly  hatch  in  woodland  pools 
before  the  weather  moderates. 

Wyeomyia  smithii  breeds  in  the  leaves  of  pitcher  plants 
{Sarracenia) .  "Larvae  may  be  found  at  all  times  of  the 
year,  the  winter  being  passed  in  that  stage,  sometimes 
active  in  mild  weather,  sometimes  frozen  solid"  (Smith). 
Even  the  female  does  not  bite. 

The  pupae  of  mosquitoes  are  humpbacked  wrigglers  or, 
rather,  "flappers,"  which  breathe  by  means  of  a  pair  of 
trumpet-shaped  siphons  on  their  back.  They  are  active 
throughout  pupal  life  but  do  not  usually  move  unless  dis- 
turbed. The  larv£e  and  pupas  really  breathe  atmospheric 
air,  for  they  stick  their  breathing  siphons  just  out  of  the 
water.  Kerosene,  spread  on  the  water,  prevents  them 
from  getting  to  the  air,  hence  they  smother.  Furthermore, 
the  kerosene  may  corrode  their  tissues.  However,  the 
best  way  to  combat  mosquitoes  is  to  prevent  their  breed- 
ing. Put  fish  in  all  pools  which  cannot  readily  be  drained ; 
keep  the  edges  of  streams  and  ponds  sharp  so  that  fish 
can  collect  all  the  eggs,  larvas,  and  pupae;  drain  swamps  and 
useless  pools ;  bury  tin  cans  and  the  like ;  and  fill  up  all  tree 
holes.  I  hope  this  will  never  be  completely  done  in  my 
lifetime.  I  would  rather  stand  a  few  mosquitoes  than 
have  all  my  collecting  places  for  aquatic  insects  spoiled. 

240 


MIDGES,  SAND=FUES,  ETC. 


Certain  genera  are  grouped  by  some  good  authorities  in  a 
separate  family,  CoRETHRiDiE.  The  wings  and  body  are 
covered  with  hairs  instead  of  scales.  The  adults  look 
like  mosquitoes,  but  probably  do  not  feed,  certainly  do  not 
bite;  the  larv^  are  predatory,  often  cannibalistic,  whereas 
mosquito  larvag  are  vegetarians ;  and  the  larvae,  for  the  most 
part,  do  not  breathe  atmospheric  air  but  get  their  oxygen 
by  absorption  from  the  water.  These  young  Corethridae 
are  called  Phantom  Larvae  on  account  of  their  almost 
complete  transparency.  By  looking  carefully  one  may 
see  them  in  still,  shaded  pools,  keeping  a  horizontal 
position  a  little  below  the  surface  of  the  water.  The  eyes 
are  dark,  and  there  are  two  pairs  of  dark  spots,  one  pair  on 
the  thorax  and  one  near  the  end  of  the  abdomen.  These 
are  "air-sacs."  I  do  not  know  how  the  air  gets  in  there 
or  if  it  is  real  air.  The  pigment  in  the  lining  of  these  sacs 
may  have  something  to  do  with  it.  The  pupa  floats  in 
an  upright  position  and  doubtless  gets  atmospheric  air 
through  the  respiratory  tnimpets  on  the  top  of  its  head. 

Chironomid^ 

This  is  a  large  family  of  delicate,  often  minute,  flies, 
commonly  known  as  Midges.  The  costal  vein  does  not 
go  further  than  the  tip  of  the  wing.  "The  larvae  are  soft- 
skinned,  worm-like,  often  blood-red  in  color  and  usually 
aquatic,  as  are  also  the  active  pupae,  though  some  live  in 
decomposing  vegetable  matter,  or  in  the  earth.  These 
midges  are  often  seen,  especially  in  the  early  spring  or  in 
the  autumn,  in  immense  swarms,  dancing  in  the  air,  and 
have  doubtless  in  many  cases  given  rise  to  exaggerated 
stories  of  mosquitoes.  .  .  .  While  at  rest  they  usually 
raise  their  fore  legs  in  the  air  and  keep  them  constantly 
vibrating"  (Williston).  Alost  of  the  adults  are  harmless, 
but  Sand-flies,  Punkies,  and  No-see-ums,  belonging  to  the 
genus  Culicoides,  make  life  miserable.  They  are  the 
smallest  blood-suckers,  some  of  them  being  only  .04  in. 
long.  Some  larvae  live  under  bark  and  fallen  leaves,  and 
in  sap  flowing  from  wounded  trees.  Chironomus  has 
many  inoffensive  species;  the  larvae  are  common  in  tubes 
in  soft  mud. 

16  241 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


iTONlDIDiE    (OR    CECIDOMYIIDiE) 

The  la>'man  usually  knows  these  onh''  by  their  works. 
Many  of  them  are  gall  makers  (see  p.  457)  or  live  in  galls 
made  by  other  species;  some  breed  in  decaying  wood  and 
bulbs,  others  under  bark  and  in  fungi,  while  still  others 
feed  on  plant  Hce.  Unlike  most  Diptera,  many  of  these 
pupae  are  enclosed  in  a  cocoon  formed  by  an  exudation 
from  the  larvag.  The  genus  Miastor  contains  species 
whose  larvae  sometimes  develop  eggs  which  hatch,  without 
fertilization,  inside  their  "mothers,"  the  children  then 
devouring  their  parent. 

"Probably  no  other  insect  does  so  wide- 
Mayetiola  spread  damage  as  the  Hessian  Fly,  attacking 

our  chief  staple,  wheat,  as  well  as  rye  and 
barley.  One-tenth  of  the  whole  crop,  valued  at  $50,000,- 
000  to  $70,000,000,  is  generally  conceded  to  be  destroyed 
by  this  pest  every  year.  In  certain  sections  the  loss  often 
amounts  to  from  30  to  50  per  cent.,  and  in  1900  was  esti- 
mated at  fully  $100,000,000"  (Sanderson).  It  (Plate 
LXV)  is  a  European  insect  which  was  first  noticed  on 
Long  Island  shortly  after  the  Hessian  troops  landed 
there.  The  adults  are  dark-colored  gnats,  about  .1  in. 
long.  The  larvae  imbed  themselves  in  the  plant,  especially 
where  the  stem  is  covered  by  a  leaf,  absorb  the  sap,  and 
weaken  the  straw.     The  "flax-seed"  is  the  puparium. 

The  Wheat-midge,  Diplosis  tritici,  was  introduced  from 
Europe  a  few  years  after  the  Hessian  Fly.  Its  larvae 
feed  on  the  developing  wheat-heads  and  pupate  in  under- 
ground cocoons.  The  larvae  of  Dasyneura  leguminicola 
feed  on  clover  seed.  The  Pear  Midge,  Contarinia  pyrivora, 
is  another  immigrant  from  Europe;  it  causes  a  lumpy 
growth  in  the  fruit,  the  larvae  working  chiefly  at  the  core. 

MvCETOPHILIDiE 

The  larvae  of  these  minute  Fungus  Gnats  feed  on  ftmgus 

(including  cultivated  mushrooms)  and  decaying  vegetation, 
often  living  in  the  soil  of  potted  plants.  I^Iany,  especially 
species  of  Sciara,  are  gregarious  and  travel  in  "armies" 

242 


SIMULIID/C:    BLACK   FLIES. 


when  looking  for  better  food  or  when  about  to  pupate. 
The  larvae  often  spin  webs  and  some,  at  least,  pupate  in  a 
dense,  spun  cocoon.  Luminous  lar\'-ae  have  been  described 
but  their  light  was  probably  borrowed  from  the  fungi. 

BlBIONID^ 

The  name  IVlarch  Flies  is  misleading,  as  adults  rarely 
appear  that  earl3^  Some  are  common  about  fruit-tree 
blossoms.  The  larvae  feed  on  excrement,  decaying  roots, 
and  logs.  The  white- winged,  rather  long-legged,  clumsy 
fly  which  frequently  occurs  in  large  numbers  in  meadows 
and  is  sometimes  seen  on  windows  is  Bibio  alhipennis 
(Flate  LXV). 

SiMULIIDiE 

Those  who  know  the  Black  Flies  of  the  North  woods,  or 
the  Buffalo  Gnats  and  Turkey  Gnats  of  other  sections, 
kncnv  some  adult  Simulids:  stout,  hump-backed,  short- 
legged  biting  pests  with  very  interesting  larvae.  See 
Plate  LXIII.  The  larvae  are  black  and  sit,  in  colonies, 
on  their  tails  on  rocks,  sticks,  and  leaves  in  shallow,  swift- 
flowing  water.  They  cling  by  means  of  sucker-like  hind 
legs  and  they  also  have  a  front  pair,  which  they  use  when 
crawling.  Miall's  Aquatic  Insects  is  a  model  of  scientific 
accuracy  and  charming  diction.  He  says:  "If  seriously 
alarmed,  the  larva  lets  go,  and  immediately  disappears 
from  sight.  But  by  watching  the  place  attentively,  we 
shall  before  long  see  the  larva  working  its  way  back,  and  in 
a  minute  or  two  it  will  be  found  attached  to  the  very  same 
leaf  from  which  it  started,  or  to  some  other  leaf,  equally 
convenient,  which  it  happens  to  fall  in  with.  I  found  the 
difficulties  of  observation  in  fast-flowing  water  crowded 
with  leaves  very  great,  until  at  last  it  occurred  to  me  to  push 
a  white  plate  in  among  the  leaves.  Then  the  dark-coloured 
larvae  became  perfectly  evident  on  the  white  ground, 
and  I  was  able  to  see  exactly  how  they  managed.  When 
disturbed  by  the  plate,  some  of  them  let  go,  and  drift  a 
few  inches  away.  They  are  not  very  easily  frightened, 
and  most  of  them  remain  holding  on  by  their  sucker. 
Those  which  quit  the  leaf  remain  stationary  in  the  torrent 
or  nearly  so,  and  on  close  observation  a  thread,  or  perhaps 

243 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


a  number  of  threads,  become  visible  on  the  white  ground. 
These  threads  are  in  general  stuck  all  over  with  small 
vegetable  particles,  like  fine  dust,  which  make  them  much 
more  apparent.  The  threads  extend  in  all  directions 
from  leaf  to  leaf,  and  the  larva  has  access  to  a  perfect 
labyrinth,  along  which  it  can  travel  to  a  fresh  place  by  help 
of  the  current  and  with  the  speed  of  lightning.  .  .  .  Al- 
though the  larva  commonly  slides  along  a  thread  previously 
made,  and  easily  seen  to  be  an  old  one  by  the  small  parti- 
cles which  cling  to  it,  it  can  upon  a  sudden  emergency 
spin  a  new  thread,  like  a  spider  or  a  Geometer  larva.  .  .  . 
When  the  time  for  pupation  comes,  special  provision 
has  to  be  made  for  the  peculiar  circumstances  in  which  the 
whole  of  the  aquatic  life  of  the  Simulium  is  passed.  An 
inactive  and  exposed  pupa,  like  that  of  Chironomus, 
may  fare  well  enough  on  the  soft  muddy  bottom  of  a  slow 
stream,  but  such  a  pupa  would  be  swept  away  in  a  moment 
by  the  currents  in  which  Simulium  is  most  at  home. 
Before  pupation  the  Insect  constructs  for  itself  a  kind  of 
nest,  not  unlike  in  shape  to  the  nests  of  some  Swallows. 
This  nest  is  glued  fast  to  the  surface  of  a  water-weed. 
The  salivary  glands,  which  furnished  the  mooring-threads, 
supply  the  material  of  which  the  nest  is  composed.  Shel- 
tered within  this  smooth  and  tapering  cocoon,  whose 
pointed  tip  is  directed  up-stream,  while  the  open  mouth 
is  turned  down-stream,  the  pupa  rests  securely  during 
the  time  of  its  transformation.  When  the  cocoon  is  first 
formed,  it  is  completely  closed,  but,  when  the  Insect  has 
cast  the  larval  skin,  one  end  of  the  cocoon  is  knocked  off, 
and  the  pupa  now  thrusts  the  fore-part  of  its  body  into 
the  current  of  water.  The  respiratory  filaments,  which 
project  immediately  behind  the  future  head,  just  as  in 
Chironomus,  draw  a  sufficient  supply  of  air  from  the 
well-aerated  water  around.  The  rings  of  the  abdomen 
are  furnished  with  a  number  of  projecting  hooks,  and  as 
the  interior  of  the  cocoon  is  felted  by  silken  threads,  the 
pupa  gets  a  firm  grip  of  its  cocoon.  If  it  is  forcibly  dis- 
lodged a  number  of  the  silken  threads  are  drawn  out  from 
the  felted  lining. 

"A  serious  difficulty  now  appears.     The  fly  is  a  delicate 
and  minute  Insect,  with  gauzy  wings.     How  does  it  escape 

244 


Plate  LXV 


Bibro 

olbipennis 


^     SlratiomyiQ 
discQlis 


Chrysops 
niqer 


C.univittQtus     G.vittQtus 


Tabanus  ^  ^  ^  ^^ 

otratus  losiophtholmas 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


from  the  rushing  water  into  the  air  above,  where  the 
remainder  of  its  life  has  to  be  passed?  .  .  .  During  the 
latter  part  of  the  pupal  stage,  which  lasts  about  a  fortnight 
in  all,  the  pupal  skin  becomes  inflated  with  air,  which  is 
extracted  from  the  water,  and  passed  apparently  through 
the  spiracles  of  the  fly  into  the  space  immediately  within 
the  pupal  skin.  The  pupal  skin  thus  becomes  distended 
with  air,  and  assumes  a  more  rounded  shape  in  consequence. 
At  length  it  splits  along  the  back,  in  the  way  usual  among 
Insects,  and  there  emerges  a  small  bubble  of  air,  which 
rises  quickly  to  the  surface  of  the  water  and  then  bursts. 
When  the  bubble  bursts,  out  comes  the  fly." 

The  larvae  have,  on  their  heads,  brushes  which  gather  up 
food  brought  to  them  by  the  stream.  This  New  Year's 
I  found  them  in  large  numbers  where  a  much-used  road 
crossed  a  small  brook;  the  automobilists  apparently  won- 
dered what  I  was  looking  for  in  that  cold  water,  but  passed 
on  in  ignorance  of  things  far  more  interesting  than  so- 
m-iny  miles  an  hour. 

BLEPHAROCERIDiE 

The  flat,  aquatic  larvae  cling  to  stones  in  swift  streams  by 
means  of  ventral  suckers,  one  to  each  of  the  six  sections 
of  the  body,  which  are  marked  off  by  sharp  constrictions. 
The  even  flatter,  heavily  chitinized,  shining  black  or  brown 
pupag  are  fastened  by  three  pairs  of  pads. 

BRACHYCERA 

Having  omitted  several  small  families,  we  now  reach 
the  flies  with  thick,  few-segmented  antennae. 

SXRATIOMYIDiE 

Some  of  the  Soldier  Flies  are  gay  with  yellow  or  green 
and  black  cross-stripes  on  their  flat,  broad  abdomens;  the 
abdomen  is  so  wide  in  some  species  that  it  extends  on  each 
side  of  the  folded  wings.  The  longitudinal  veins  are 
crowded  toward  the  front  part  of  the  wings,  those  which 
are  left  in  the  hind  part  being  much  fainter.  There  are 
numerous    species,    their    larvae    having    various    habits. 

246 


HORSE  FLIES  AND  RELATIVES. 


Aquatic  larvae  (such  as  those  of  Stratiomyia,  Plate  LXV, 
and  Odontomyia,  Plate  LXVI)  have  a  circlet  of  bristles 
on  their  tails  which  opens  out  flat  when  the  larva  is  at  the 
surface  taking  atmospheric  air  into  its  tracheal  system 
through  its  tail-spiracles,  but  which  folds  together  when  the 
larva  wishes  to  free  itself  from  the  surface  fikn.  Many,  or 
most,  of  these  aquatic  larvae  pupate  in  the  mud  at  the 
water's  edge.  Larvae  also  occur  in  cow  dung  {Myiochrysa), 
in  privies  {Hermetia),  under  stones,  in  tree  sap  (Geosargus), 
in  decaying  wood  (Pachygaster),  in  moss,  in  catsup,  and  on 
vegetables,  such  as  potato  tubers  and  growing  lettuce. 
Some  are  carnivorous;  others  are  vegetarians.  Pupation 
occurs  in  the  larval  skin. 

Tabanid^e 

These  (Plates  LXV  and  LXVI)  are  surely  of  popular 
interest;  they  are  the  Horse  Flies,  Green-headed  Monsters, 
Gad  Flies,  Breeze  Flies,  Ear  Flies  or  Deer  Flies.  Only  the 
females  bite;  the  males  content  themselves  with  sipping 
sweets  from  flowers.  The  predaceous  larvae  live  in  water 
or  in  moist  earth,  apparently  hibernating  as  mature  larvae 
and  pupating,  free  from  the  larval  skin,  the  following 
spring.  The  somewhat  flattened  larvae  have  a  circle  of 
fleshy  protuberances  aroimd  each  segment,  which  aid 
them  in  locomotion.  There  are  many  species,  about 
forty  of  Tabanus  and  thirty-five  of  Chrysops  having  been 
recorded,  for  example,  from  New  Jersey.  The  eyes  of  the 
males  touch  each  other  above;  those  of  the  females  are 
somewhat  separated;  but  those  of  both  sexes,  especially  of 
Chrysops,  are  beautifully  marked  with  brilliant  colors 
in  life.  These  colors  may  often  be  temporarily  restored 
in  dried  specimens  by  moistening  with  water  or  glycerine. 

1.  Hind  tibiae  with  spurs  at  the  tip 2. 

Hind  tibiae  without  spurs  at  tip ;  ocelh  absent 3. 

2.  Third  joint  of  antennae  composed  of  5  superficially 
separated  rings,  the  first  of  which  is  much  longer  than  the 
following  ones;  oceUi  present.  Chrysops  is  the  common 
genus.  The  wings  very  often  have  broad,  black  crossbands. 
The  western  SilJus  is  distinguished  from  it  by  having 
the  second  antennal  joint  only  half  as  long  as  the  first. 

247 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Third  joint  of  the  antennae  composed  of  8  rings,  the 
first  of  which  is  only  slightly  longer  than  the  following 
ones.  Goniops  (wings  dark  in  front,  clear  behind;  eyes  of 
female  acutely  angulated  above)  and  Pangonia  (wings 
neariy  clear  or  else  uniformly  darkened;  female's  eyes  not 
so  angulated;  proboscis  often  very  long). 
3.  Third  joint  of  antennae  with  4  rings;  front  of  female 
very  wide.  Wings  darkened  and  spotted  with  rings; 
when  at  rest,  held  in  a  roof -like  position Hcematopota. 

Third  joint  of  antennae  with  5  rings  and  with  a  distinct 
basal  angle  or  process  above  (the  southern  Diachlorus 
differs  in  not  having  this  process);  front  of  female  not 
unusually  wide.  Hind  tibiae  without  long  hairs  (such  as 
the  western  Snowiella  has) Tabanus. 

Leptid^e 

"These  trim-appearing  flies  [see  Leptis,  Plate  LXVII, 
and  Chrysopila,  Plate  LXVI]  have  rather  long  legs,  a 
cone-shaped  abdomen  tapering  towards  the  hind  end,  and 
sometimes  a  downward  projecting  proboscis,  which  with 
the  form  of  the  body  and  legs  has  suggested  the  name 
snipe-flies"  (Comstock).  They  are  usually  of  medium 
size  for  flies  and  are  frequently  found  resting  head-down 
on  grass  stems  and  tree  trunks.  The  squama  are  rudi- 
mentary; the  costal  vein  surrounds  the  wing;  the  antennae 
vary  greatly  from  genus  to  genus  but  the  joints  beyond  the 
second  are  usually  more  or  less  fused.  The  larv^,  which 
live  in  decaying  wood,  under  bark,  in  the  burrows  of  wood- 
boring  insects,  in  moss,  and  even  in  water,  are  predaceous 
as  are  also  most  of  the  adults. 

Cyrtid^ 

These  rarely  noticed,  small-headed  flies  have  curious 
habits.  You  may  find  Opsehius  pterodontinus  about  the 
webs  of  the  common  grass-spider,  Agelena  ncEvia,  and  can 
recognize  it  by  the  tooth-like  projection  on  the  front 
margins  of  the  wings.  Its  larvae  live  in  the  spiders  and  its 
relatives  have  similar  habits.  The  tables  are  turned;  in 
this  case  the  fly  eats  the  spider. 

248 


Plate  LXVI 


•^^/^ 


OdontomyiQ 
cinctQ 


Tabanus 
niqrovittatus 


ChrijsopilQ 
thoracicQ 


V»/..^ 


Anthrax 
iQterolis 


Psiiopodinus 
Bombylius     patibulalus 
major 


VolucellQ 
evecta 


Sqrphus  americanus 


"<— _^, 


Bcm'byliomyia 
QbruptQ 


MilesiQ 

virqiniensis 


BEE,  WINDOW,  AND  STILETTO  FLIES. 


BOMBYLIIDiE 


If  you  see  a  fuzzy  fly  hover  in  mid-air  and  suddenly 
dart  a  few  feet  away  to  hover  again,  you  may  feel  certain 
that  it  is  a  Bee  Fly.     That  name,  and  the  "real ' '  name  for 
the  family  is  just  as  bad,  has  always  confused  me,  as  it 
seemed  to  go  with  certain  more  bee-like  Asihds,  but  it 
does    not.     Plate    LXVI    shows    samples    of    Bombylius 
(larvae  live  in  the  nest  of  bees,  such   as  Andrena)  and 
Anthrax    (the   larv^   of   some   species   of  this  genus  are 
probably  parasites  of  Lepidoptera  but  those  of  others, 
especially  of  those  whose  adults  have  wing-markings,  are 
parasites  of   Lepidoptera's  parasites);   Plate  LXVII,   of 
Spogostylum,  Systropus,  and  Exoprosopa.     The  BombyHid 
face  is  not  hollowed  out  and  the  eyes,  especially  of  the 
males,  ahnost  or  quite  touch  above;  the  proboscis  has 
broad  tips  and  is    sometimes  very  long  and  slender;   the 
wings  often  have  dark  markings.     The  beak  is  chiefly 
used  to  sip  nectar.     The  larvae  feed  upon  the  eggs  or  young 
stages  of  grasshoppers,  beetles  (e.  g.  Cicindela),  Lepidop- 
tera, bees,  and  wasps. 

SCENOPINIDiE 

We  have  only  one  genus,  Scenopinus,  of  the  Window 
Flies  and,  of  this,  only  fenestralis  (Plate  LXVII)  is  common. 
It  is  bluish,  with  reddish-yellow  legs;  the  head  is  placed 
so  low  that  the  thorax  seems  quite  convex.  It  is  on  our 
windows  because  its  worm-like  larvae  are  under  our  carpets, 
eating  ' '  moths. ' '  Each  of  the  larva's  abdominal  segments, 
except  the  last,  is  constricted,  so  that  it  appears  to  have 
nineteen  segments. 

THEREVID.E 

The  Stiletto  Flies  are  like  delicate,  long-legged  Asilidae 
but  the  front  of  the  head  is  not  hollowed  out  between  the 
eyes;  it  may  even  be  convex  and  the  eyes  of  the  males  may 
join  on  top.  Their  habits  are  those  of  the  Asihdae.  Psilo- 
cephala  (Plate  LXVII)  is  a  common  genus. 

249 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Mydaid^ 


This  is  a  small  family  of  large  flies  which  resemble  the 
thin-bodied  Asilidas  and  have  similar  habits  but  whose 
probosces  have  fleshy  lips  at  their  tips.  Only  one  genus, 
My  das  (Plate  LXVII),  occurs  in  the  Northeast. 

ASILID^ 

In  Plate  LXVII,  Leptogaster,  Dasyllis,  Erax,  and  Asilus 
of  the  large  family  of  Robber  Flies  are  illustrated,  the  two 
last-named  being  the  more  typical.  Some  species  are  two 
inches  long;  they  are  frequently  seen  swooping  upon  insect 
victims  in  mid-air  or  snatching  them  off  of  leaves  and 
carrying  them  away  to  a  convenient  spot  where  the  sucking 
of  vital  fluids  may  be  quietly  completed.  The  hairier  and 
stouter  type  is  just  as  predaceous  and  possibly  their 
resemblance  to  peaceful  bumble-bees  helps  them  to  get 
close  to  their  prey,  although  this  mimicking  may  be  a 
protection  against  other  predaceous  animals  which  fear 
the  bees'  sting,  or  again  it  may  just  "happen  so."  The 
eyes  bulge  out  so  that  the  head  seems  to  be  hollowed 
between  them;  the  proboscis  is  stout,  rather  than  long;  the 
legs  are  strong  and  bristly.  The  larvae,  also,  are  pre- 
daceous, feeding  upon  other  larvae  in  rotting  wood,  under 
bark,  fallen  leaves,  or  in  loose  soil. 

DOLICHOPODID^ 

A  technical  point  which  distinguishes  this  family  is  that 
the  discal  and  second  basal  cells  are  united,  there  being  no 
separating  cross-vein.  They  are  usually  less  than  .3  in. 
long;  have  slender,  tapering,  usually  metallic  green  abdo- 
mens, and  the  tarsal  part  of  the  long  legs  are  often  rela- 
tively quite  long  (See  Psilopodinus,  Plate  LXVI).  Prof. 
Aldrich  says:  "This  family  perhaps  surpasses  any  other 
natural  group  of  animals  in  the  variety  of  secondary  sexual 
characters  possessed  by  the  males.  These  are  ornaments, 
and  are  paraded  before  the  females,  as  are  similar  orna- 
ments in  the  peacock  and  turkey-cock.  They  may  occur 
in  the  tarsi,  tibiae,  femora,  wing-apex,  face,  third  joint  of 
antenna,  arista,  palpi,  and   still  other  places.  .  .  .  The 

250 


Plate  LXVII 


Lept/is 

mijstQcea 


Spoqostylum 
simson 


ropus 
iTiQcer 


Ex^prosopQ 
j€scipennis 


PsilocephaFQ 
hoemorrhoidQlis 


ScenopinuS  Muring 


cIqvqIus 


Lepfo(5Q5ter 
jlavipes 


EfQX 

rujibarbus  •  ^ 


-  ,     .  Asilus 

DosylliS  tnorQcica  sericeus 


251 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


larvae  are  almost  wholly  unknown  in  the  United  States; 
several  species  have  been  worked  out  in  Europe.  They 
are  found  in  moist  earth  rich  in  decaying  vegetation,  upon 
which  they  feed;  Dr.  A.  D.  Hopkins  has  found  larvae  of 
Medeterus  in  burrows  of  Scolytidae  and  thinks  them  pre- 
daceous.  ...  In  adult  life  all  are  predaceous,  capturing 
chiefly  the  minuter  soft-bodied  flies,  which  they  enclose 
within  their  soft  labella  [Hps],  after  the  manner  of  Sca- 
tophaga,  while  extracting  the  juices."  The  most  common 
place  for  adults  is  on  shaded  foHage  but  the  sun  is  by  no 
means  avoided.  Wet  earth  at  the  edge  of  water  is  also 
favored,  while  Hydrophorus  and  Hercostomus  stand  on  the 
surface  of  water.  Thinophilus  is  partial  to  sea  beaches. 
Neurigona  and  Medeterus  frequent  the  bark  of  trees,  and 
Tachytrechus  old  logs. 

Empidid^ 

A  question  which  one  always  expects,  when  out  walking 
with  non-entomologists,  is  "What  are  those  little  things 
dancing  in  the  air?  "  The  only  way  to  answer  (truthfully) 
is  to  catch  some  and  find  out,  for  they  may  be  Homoptera, 
Coleoptera,  Hymenoptera,  Diptera,  or  even  some  other 
order.  If  Diptera,  they  may  belong  to  any  of  a  number  of 
families;  the  Chironomids  are  great  dancers  (Williston 
told  of  such  an  immense  ball  that  their  wings  produced  a 
"noise  like  that  of  a  distant  waterfall,  and  audible  for  a 
considerable  distance"),  but  the  Empididse  are  called  the 
Dance  Flies.  "The  males  of  certain  species  of  Empis 
and  Hilara  have  the  odd  habit  of  blowing  out  bubbles  of  a 
whitish  viscid  substance  which  they  carry  about  with  them 
in  the  air.  It  is  beHeved  that  these  toy  balloons  are 
attractive  to  the  females"  (Kellogg), 

The  species  var>^  in  size  from  .03  to  more  than  .5  in. 
in  length.  I  do  not  know  of  any  good  "catch  characters " 
by  which  to  recognize  members  of  this  family.  They  and  - 
the  Dolichopodids  have  the  wings  noticeably  rounded  at 
the  tip  and  the  second  longitudinal  vein  ends  considerably 
before  the  tip  of  the  wing;  the  eyes  of  the  males  often 
meet;  the  first  and  second  segments  of  the  three-jointed 
antennas  are  sometimes  so  small  that  they  look  like  a  single 

252 


SYRPHID/C:  FLOWER  FLIES 


segment;  the  head  is  more  or  less  spherical  and  loosely 
fastened.  The  body  is  heavier  than  that  of  a  Chironomid 
and  almost  never  metallic  like  the  Dolichopodids;  and  the 
legs,  especially  the  first  pair,  are  often  curiously  modified. 
The  adults  are  predaceous,  as  are  probably  also  the  larvae, 
which  live  in  decaying  vegetable  matter  and  in  nmning 
streams. 

PHORID.E 

These  minute  flies  would  probably  not  be  noticed  unless 
you  were  looking  for  them,  although  they  are  sometimes 
to  be  found  on  windows.  The  life  histories  are  varied, 
but  those  of  the  dwellers  in  ant-nests  are  probably  the 
most  interesting.  Apocephalus  larv^  live  inside  the  head 
of  an  adult  ant;  the  larvae  of  Metopina  pachycondylcB  curl 
themselves  around  the  neck  of  ant  larvae  and  share  the 
food  which  the  ants  bring  to  their  larvae. 


We  now  start  the  division  CYCLORRAPHA  (see  p.  230) ; 
the  last  of  the  three  joints  of  the  antenna  is  not  ringed  or 
complex  and  always  bears  an  arista;  the  third  longitudinal 
wing-vein  is  never  branched,  and  there  are  never  more 
than  three  complete  posterior  cells. 

Syrphid^ 

This  family  is  one  of  the  richest  in  species  of  all  Diptera. 
A  characteristic  of  the  Syrphids  is  a  "false  vein"  in  the 
wing  between,  and  more  or  less  parallel  to,  the  third 
and  fourth  longitudinal  veins.  The  adults  are  so  frequently 
seen  feeding  on  nectar  and  pollen  that  they  are  called 
Flower  Flies.  Some  are  almost  bare  and  resemble  wasps 
in  appearance  and  manner  of  flying;  others  are  hairy  and 
resemble  bees,  even  in  the  droning  or  buzzing  noise  they 
make;  but  all  are  quite  harmless. 

For  the  Northeast,  at  least,  the  following  key  will  serve 
to  identify  most  of  the  common  genera,  if  carefully  used. 
I.  Antennae  with  a  terminal  style.  First  two  antenna  1 
joints  elongated;  wasp-like:  Ceria.  These  joints  short: 
Pelecocera  (about  .4  in.  long;  eyes  bare  )  and  Callicera 
(larger;  eyes  pilose). 

253 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Antennae  with  a  dorsal  arista 2. 

2.  Marginal  cell  of  the  wings  open 3. 

Marginal  cell  of  the  wings  closed  or  petiolate 20. 

3.  Anterior  cross-vein  of  the  wings  distinctly  before  the 
middle  of  the  discal  cell,  almost  always  perpendicular, . .  .4. 

Anterior  cross-vein  of  the  wings  near,  or  beyond,  the 
middle  of  the  discal  cell,  usually  oblique 15. 

4.  Antennae  longer  than  the  head 5. 

Antennae  not  longer  than  the  head 8. 

5.  Side-margins  of  the  thorax  yellow.  Chrysotoxum; 
pubescens  (.5  in.  long)  frequents  low  foliage  and  bases 
of  trees. 

Side-margins  of  thorax  not  yellow 6. 

6.  Face  with  a  projecting  tubercle  and  wholly  or  partly 
yellow.  Paragus;  generally  fly  low  in  moist,  shady 
places. 

Margin  of  mouth  projecting  and  face  wholly  black. 
Chrysogaster;  frequent  on  spring  flowers. 

Face  without  a  projecting  tubercle  and  mouth-margin 
not    projecting 7. 

7.  Scutellum  flattened,  often  with  spines  or  tubercles 
on  its  border;  a  vein  stump  from  the  third  longitudinal 
vein  in  the  first  posterior  cell.  Mixogaster  (abdomen 
much  narrowed  at  base)  and  Microdon  (abdominal  base 
not  narrowed).  The  slug-like  larvae  of  Microdon  live  in 
ants'  nests. 

Scutellum  without  spines;  no  such  vein-stump; 
less  than  .5  in.  long.  Pipiza;  often  hover  in  front  of 
flowers  with  exposed  nectar,  such  as  buttercup.  The 
larvae  of  radicum  feed  on  root-lice. 

8.  Groimd-color  of  the  face  black.  Both  Chalcomyia 
(scutellum  large,  nearly  square)  and  Myiolepta  (scutellum 
not  unusually  large,  broadest  at  its  base)  have  the  hind 
femora  distinctly  thickened.  Several  genera  have  the 
femora  but  little  or  not  at  all  thickened ;  of  these  the  follow- 
ing have  a  tubercle  on  the  face  but  the  margin  of  the 
mouth  does  not  project 9. 

Ground-color  of  the  face  yellowish 10, 

9.  Facial  orbits  separated  by  a  slender  parallel  groove; 
metallic  green  or  black  flies.  Chilosia;  commonly  found, 
covered  with  pollen,  on  spring  flowers. 

254 


KEY  TO  SYRPHID.^. 


Face  without  orbital  grooves;  black,  with  more  or 
less  metallic  green  or  blue  and  with  yellowish,  reddish 
or  metallic  cross-bands  on  abdomen.  Wings  not  longer 
than  the  abdomen:  Pyrophczna.  Wings  longer  than  the 
abdomen :  Platychirus  (Plate  LXVIII ;  front  legs  of  males 
with  tarsi  and  end  of  tibiae  dilated)  and  Melanostoma 
(these  joints  slender  in  both  sexes).     Common  at  flowers. 

10.  Abdomen  much  narrowed  toward  the  base,  distinctly 
club-shaped  or  spatulate  in  outline.  Hind  femora  slender: 
Baccha;  frequently  hover  near  flowers  and  tips  of  branches, 
especially  of  pine.  Hind  femora  thickened:  Sphegina 
(third  joint  of  antennae  rounded)  and  Neoascia  (this  joint 
not  rounded). 

Abdomen  oval  or  slender,  not  club-shaped  or  spatu- 
late  II. 

11.  Side-margins  of  thorax  yellow 12. 

Side-margins     of     thorax     not     yellow.     Abdomen 

without  several  definite  yellow  cross-bands:  several  not 
very  common  genera,  including  Leucozona  (thickly  pilose; 
a  broad  yellow  band  at  base  of  black  abdomen).  Abdo- 
men with  several  definite,  yellow  cross-bands 13. 

12.  A  median,  ashy  line  on  thorax.  Mesogramma  (Plate 
LXVIH).  The  larvae  feed  on  aphids,  although  those  of 
polita  are  said  to  feed  on  corn-pollen. 

No  median  ashy  line  on  thorax.  Spkccrophoria 
(Plate  LXVIH;  face  projecting  below)  and  Xantho gramma 
(face  receding) . 

13.  EUnd  femora  much  thickened.     Syritta. 

Hind  femora  slender.  Third  longitudinal  vein  with  a 
distinct  bend  into  the  first  posterior  cell:  Didea.  This 
vein  straight  or  only  gently  curved 14. 

14.  Margin  of  mouth  produced  into  a  long  snout. .  .Rhin- 
gia. 

Margin  of  mouth  not  produced.  Syrphus  (see 
below). 

15.  Arista  plumose 16. 

Arista  bare  or  merely  pubescent 17. 

16.  Antennae  elongate,  the  third  joint  more  than  twice 
as  long  as  wide.     Volucella  (see  below). 

Antennae  short,  the  third  joint  not  so  proportionately 
long.     Sericomyia. 

255 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


17.  Third  longitudinal  vein  deeply  curved  into  the  first 
posterior  cell.  Several  genera;  of  which  Helophilus  has 
thickened  hind  femora,  the  face  is  not  protuberant,  and  the 
third  antennal  joint  is  oval.  It  has  been  reared  from 
brackish  water  as  well  as  from  carcasses. 

Third  longitudinal  vein  only  gently  curved 18. 

18.  Thorax  with  distinct  yellow  markings  other  than 
on  the  shoulder  protuberances.  Wasp-like  flies  of  large 
size 19. 

Not  so.     Numerous  genera,  some  not  rare. 

19.  Hind  femora  with  a  conical,  tooth-like  protuberance 
below,  near  the  outer  end;  sixth  longitudinal  vein  directed 
obliquely  outward  beyond  the  anal  cell.     Spilomyia. 

Not  so.  Antennae  inserted  low  down,  near  middle 
of  head's  profile;  face  not  longer  than  the  front:  Tem- 
nosioma  (Plate  LXVIII).  Antennae  inserted  on  a  conicai 
process;  face  much  produced  downward:  Sphecomyia. 

20.  Third  longitudinal  vein  deeply  bent  into  the  first 
posterior  cell.  Hind  femora  with  a  sharp,  tooth-like 
projection  below,  near  outer  end:  Milesia  (Plate  LXVI). 
Hind  femora  without  such  tooth,  although  sometimes 
thickened:  Eristalis  (see  below). 

Third  longitudinal  vein  not  deeply  bent;  third 
antennal  joint  elongate;  arista  feathery.  Volucella  (see 
below). 

V.  evecta  (Plate  LXVI)  differs  from  its 
Volucella  congeners    by    being    furry.      V.    ohesa    is 

brilliant  shining  green;  the  wings  are  spotted  at  the  end  of 
the  auxiliary  vein  and  on  the  cross- veins;  lives  in  and 
near  the  Tropics.  V.  jasciata  is  black  with  yellow  markings 
on  the  thorax  and  three  rather  broad  yellow  bands  on  the 
abdomen;  the  wings  have  indistinct  dark  bands.  Some 
say  that  the  larvae  of  Volucella  feed  on  the  larvae  of  bumble- 
bees and  wasps  but  probably  they  are  merely  scavengers 
in  the  nests  of  these  Hymenoptera. 

About  the  middle  of  the   i8th  Century 

rista  s  Reaumur,  known  also  for  his  thermometer, 

tenaz 

wrote  voluminously,  and  exceedingly  well, 

on  life  histories  of  insects.     It  was  he  who  called  the  larva 

256 


THE  RAT-TAILED  MAGGOT. 


of  tenax  the  Rat-tailed  Maggot,  a  name  which  has  stuck. 
This  creature  is  extremely  interesting  but  one  must  be 
interested  in  order  to  enjoy  it,  for  it  usually  lives  in  foul 
water,  such  as  privy  vaults  and  the  fluid  in  decaying  car- 
casses. The  yellow  and  black  adults,  Drone  Flies,  resemble 
honey  bees,  and  it  was  this  which  led  Ovid,  Virgil,  and 
other  ancient  writers  to  tell  about  bees  originating  from 
dead  animals.  Plate  LXVIII  shows  both  adult  and  larva; 
the  larva's  tail  lengthens  and  shortens  like  a  telescope  so 
that  the  tip  may  reach  the  surface  of  the  water  and  the 
larva  breathe  atmospheric  air  through  it  while  feeding 
on  decaying  matter  under  water.  Pupation  occurs  out 
of  the  water  in  the  larval  skin.  This  was  originally  an 
Old  World  species  but  it  is  now  almost  cosmopoHtan. 
0-her  species  of  the  genus  have  similar  habits. 

These  (Plate  LXVI)  and  the  other  aphid- 
Byrphus  eating  Syrphidae  should  be  classed  among 

our  friends.  I  have  seen  ants  stop  milking  their  aphid 
cows  to  threaten  a  female  Syrphus,  and  the  ants  even 
ran  from  the  upper  to  the  under  side  of  the  leaf  and  back 
ugain  to  keep  her  in  sight  but  always  she  succeeded  finally 
\n  depositing  a  minute  egg  in  the  midst  of  the  herd.  I  do 
not  believe  the  ants  reasoned  that  here  was  an  enemy  of 
their  friends;  they  were  merely  naturally  pugnacious  to- 
ward any  intruder  and,  at  any  rate,  they  never  noticed  the 
eggs,  which  doubtless  hatched,  in  the  course  of  time,  into 
flat,  transversely  wrinkled,  green  larvas,  pointed  in  front 
and  eyeless,  but  able  to  search  out  the  sedentary  aphids 
and  to  suck  their  juices. 


CONOPID^ 

Physocephala  sagittaria  (Plate  LXVIII)  gives  a  fair  idea 
of  the  family;  some  are  even  more  wasp-like,  some  less;  all 
are  "thick-headed."  They  feed  on  nectar  and  pollen 
but  the  female,  from  time  to  time,  leaves  this  sweet  pas- 
time to  lay  an  Qgg  on  some  bumble-bee,  wasp,  or  grass- 
hopper. The  larval  and  pupal  periods  are  passed  in  the 
abdom'^.n  of  the  host. 

17  257 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


The  families  of  CALYPTERATE  Diptera  are  very 
difficult,  even  for  specialists,  but,  on  account  of  the  im- 
portance of  some  of  the  Muscidse,  an  effort  must  be  made 
to  enable  intelligent  non-specialists  to  recognize  a  few  of 
the  species.  Differing  from  ACALYPTER^  (see  p.  274), 
these  flies  have  well  developed  squamae;  the  auxiliary 
vein  is  always  distinct  throughout;  the  first  longitudinal 
vein  is  never  very  short;  the  eyes  of  the  males  frequently 
touch;  the  thorax  has  a  complete  transverse  suture;  and 
the  flies  are  never  very  small. 

The  technical  terms,  about  to  be  used,  are  explained  on 
p.  230  and  Plate  LXIX,  except  "  hypopleura, "  the  space  on 
the  side  of  the  thorax  above  the  hind  coxae,  and  "bucca, " 
the  cheeks,  below  the  eyes.  It  should  be  remembered 
that  the  keys  will  work  only  with  the  flies  for  which  they 
are  intended;  if  you  apply  them  to  some  other  creature, 
you  will  get  weird  results. 

Since  it  is  the  Muscidae  which  are  of  principal  interest, 
it  should  be  noted,  when  at  5,  that  Lucilia  sylvarum  has  a 
pair  of  bristles  on  the  posterior  margin  of  the  second 
abdominal  segment  but  its  legs  are  not  noticeably  long; 
when  at  6,  the  Muscid  genus,  Muscina,  may  give  trouble 
as  the  narrowing  of  the  posterior  cell  is  not  very  pro- 
nounced. 

1.  Mouth-opening    small;    mouth-parts    small    or   ves- 
tigial  CEsTRiD^  (p.  259). 

Mouth-opening      normal;      mouth-parts      not     ves- 
tigial   2. 

2.  Hypopleurae  with  a  tuft  of  bristles 3. 

No  tuft  of  bristles  on  the  hypopleurae 6. 

3.  Antennal  bristle   (arista)    bare   or  only   slightly  pu- 
bescent  Tachinid^    (p.  260). 

Arista  plumose  or  very  distinctly  pubescent 4. 

4.  Arista  bare  on  the  distal  (outer)  half . .  Sarcophagid-iE 
(p.  262). 

Arista  plumose  or  distinctly  pubescent  to  tip 5. 

5.  Back   of   abdomen   usually   bristly   on   the   anterior 
part;  legs  usually  long Dexiid^  (p.  260). 

No  bristles  on  front  part  of  back  of  abdomen;  legs  not 
noticeably   elongated Some  Muscid-^e  (p.  266). 

258 


GAD  FLIES  OR  BOT  FLIES. 


6.     First  posterior  cell  narrowed  in  the  margin  or  dosed; 

arista  plumose  to  the  tip Some  Muscid^  (p.  266). 

First  posterior  cell  very  slightly  or  not  at  all  narrowed; 

arista  may  be  plumose,  pubescent,  or  bare 

Anthomyid^  (p.  263). 

CESTRID^ 

These  are  the  Gad  Flies,  Bot  Flies,  or  Breeze  Flies. 
The  adults  are  moderate  or  large  in  size;  the  eyes  are 
rather  small  and  the  lower  part  of  the  head  is  relatively 
large. 

"  One  of  the  most  interesting  and  injurious 
Gastrophilus        -^    ^^^   -^^^^^   g^^    pj^^  GastropUlus   equi. 

The  female  horse  bot  fly  lays  from  400  to  500  eggs,  all  of 
which  may  be  placed,  under  favorable  circumstances, 
upon  one  horse.  These  eggs  are  fastened  to  the  hairs, 
generally  of  the  fore  legs,  shoulders,  or  chest.  A  horse 
instinctively  fears  this  pest,  and  it  will  be  seen,  if  in  the 
pasture,  to  start  and  strike  with  the  fore  feet,  although 
the  cause  of  its  nervousness  is  not  visible.  The  adult 
fly  is  brownish,  more  or  less  hairy,  looking  a  little  like  a 
small  honey  bee.  It  is  most  skillful  in  depositing  its 
yellowish  eggs,  'nits'  we  sometimes  call  them,  on  the 
animal's  hairs.  The  moisture  and  friction  which  these 
receive  from  the  animal  licking  its  hair  cause  them  to 
hatch,  and  further  Ucking,  occasioned  possibly  by  the 
irritation  caused  the  skin  by  the  presence  of  the  tiny 
larvag,  carries  the  maggot  into  the  mouth,  whence  it  finds 
its  way  into  the  horse's  stomach,  and  there  completes  its 
larval  life,  attached  to  the  lining  of  the  stomach,  and 
sometimes  so  abundant  as  to  completely  cover  a  portion 
of  it.  .  .  .  The  bots  live  in  the  stomach  or  intestine 
eight  or  ten  months,  moulting  twice  during  that  period, 
and  naturally,  when  numerous,  sapping  the  vitality  of  the 
horse.  They  also  cause  great  irritation  by  attaching 
themselves  to  the  lining  of  the  small  intestine  and  rectum. 
In  the  spring  these  bots  lose  their  hold  and  pass  out  with 
droppings,  working  their  wa}'  into  the  soil  an  inch  or  two, 
or  into  some  protected  locality;  each  'bot'  or  larva 
changes  to  a  pupa,  lying  within  a  pupal  case,  from  which 

259 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


the  adult  fly  emerges  after  about  thirty  days"  (Wash- 
bum).  A  number  of  other  species  of  this  genus  live  in 
the  stomach  of  horses  and  asses. 

The  Warble-flies  of  cattle,  "whose  larvae 
Hypoderma  ^^j-g  found  in  small  tumors  under  the  skin, 
also  have  their  eggs  swallowed,  and  the  young  larvae  may 
be  found  in  the  mouth  and  oesophagus.  But  from  here 
they  burrow  out  into  the  body-tissues  of  the  host,  finally 
coming  to  rest  underneath  the  skin  along  the  back.  When 
the  larva  or  grub  is  full-grown  it  gnaws  through  the  skin, 
drops  to  the  ground,  pupates,  and  in  from  three  to  six 
weeks  changes  to  the  adult  fly.  The  hides  of  cattle 
attacked  by  these  l^flies  are  rendered  nearly  valueless 
by  the  holes,  and  are  known  as  'grubby'  hides.  Osborn 
estimates  that  these  warble-flies,  of  which  we  have  two 
species,  Hypoderma  hovis  and  H.  lineata,  cause  a  loss  of 
$50,000,000  annually  in  this  country"  (Kellogg). 

(Estrus  ovis  is  the  sheep-bot.  Its  larvae  live  in  the 
nasal  and  other  head  passages  of  sheep,  causing  the  disease 
known  as  staggers,  grub-in-the-head,  or  false  gid.  The 
larvae  found  in  the  throats  of  deer  are  those  of  Cephenomyia 
ahdominalis.  Our  largest  species  in  the  East,  and  prob- 
ably our  heaviest  Dipteron,  is  Cuterehra  buccata  (Plate 
LXVIII),  whose  larvae  are  found  imder  the  skin  of  rabbits. 

Dexiid^ 

"In  habits  and  life  histories,  the  Dexiidae  closely  re- 
semble the  Tachinidae,  and  the  distinction  between  the 
two  families  is  very  difficult  to  make,  if  it  is  not  actually 
evanescent ' '  (Williston) . 

Tachinid^ 

This  is  a  family  concerning  which,  from  the  human  view- 
point, nothing  but  good  can  be  seen;  but  the  taxonomy  is 
difficult  and  the  difficulties  are  being  greatly  increased  by 
certain  workers  who  found  not  only  new  species  but  even 
genera  on  intangible  differences.  Amateur  Lepidopterists 
often  raise  Tachinids  instead  of  Lepidoptera  when  they 

260 


Plate  LXVIII 


PiQtijchirus       marqinatQ 
hyperboreus 


SphoerophoriQ 
cylindricQ 


Eristalis 
tenax 


TemnosloiTiQ 
Qlternans 


CuterebrQ 
buccQtQ        ^    , 
Tricni 


PhysocephalQ 
SQgittariQ 


LatreillimuiQ      r  A  '"'  ^ 

hifn^rintn  LpQlpuS 

signiferus 


bijQSciatQ 


Tetanocera 
plumosa 


ScQlophaqa      SapromgiQ 
stercoraria    pniladelpnicd 


261 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


work  with  caterpillars  which  were  hatched  afield.  Plate 
LXVIII  shows  Latreillimyia  bifasciata  and  Epalpus  sig- 
niferus;  the  former  is  parasitic  on  various  Ceratocampidas. 
Trichopoda  pennipes  on  the  same  plate  has  been  bred  from 
the  squash-bug,  Anasa.  Bombyliomyia  ahrupta  (Plate 
LXVI)  is  often  seen  at  the  edge  of  woods  and  in  clearings. 
Williston  says:  "The  habits  of  the  mature  fly  are 
similar  for  nearly  all  the  members  of  the  group.  They  will 
be  found  on  vegetation,  on  leaves  or  flowers,  in  such  places 
as  are  frequented  by  the  hosts  which  they  parasitize. 
Not  a  few  will  be  caught  with  the  beating  net.  .  .  .  The 
larvae  of  this  group  are  all  parasitic  in  habit  so  far  as 
known,  and  the  parasitism  is  probably  confined  to  the 
early  stages  of  other  insects;  and  the  individual  fly  is  not 
very  particular  in  the  choice  of  larvae  which  she  parasitizes. 
Their  usefulness  in  keeping  injurious  insects  in  check  is 
immeasurable.  By  far  the  largest  number  of  species  are 
parasitic  upon  Lepidoptera,  of  which  not  less  than  four 
hundred  have  been  recorded  [many  more  now].  About 
seventy  species  are  known  to  be  parasitic  upon  Hymen- 
optera,  less  than  forty  upon  Coleoptera,  a  score  upon 
Orthoptera,  five  upon  Hemiptera,  and  as  many  upon 
other  Diptera." 

SARCOPHAGID-iE 

These  are  popularly  called  Flesh  Flies.  The  family 
may  be  fairly  well  recognized  by  the  key  given  on  p.  258. 
To  be  perfectly  frank,  I  dislike  writing  about  unclean 
things  and  will  use  a  short  service  with  this  family;  be- 
sides it  is  a  very  difficult  group,  taxonomically.  The 
Thomas  Say  Foundation,  care  of  the  Academy  of  Natural 
Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  has  just  published  a  monograph 
of  the  family  by  J.  M.  Aldrich.  It  is  claimed  that  20,000 
eggs  have  been  found  in  the  ovaries  of  a  single  Sarcophagid. 
The  principal  genus  is  Sarcophaga  (see  Plate  LXX). 
Although  most  of  the  Sarcophagidae  justify  their  scientific 
name  and  its  English  equivalent,  the  larvae  of  others 
feed  on  dung  and  rotting  vegetable  material.  Some 
larvae  are  found  under  the  skin  of  turtles,  others  in  the 
stomachs  of  frogs;  while  still  others  are  parasitic  in  snails 

262 


THE  LESSER  HOUSE-FLY 


and  insects.  Nasal  myiasis  in  man  is  due  to  species  of 
this  genus.  The  eggs  frequently  hatch  in  the  female's 
body,  so  that  she  lays  living  larvas. 

Anthomyid^e 

This  is  a  large  family  of  inconspicuously  colored,  small 
to  moderately  large  flies.  The  squama  are  usually  of 
considerable  size.  The  larvae  have  four  rows  of  thread- 
like processes  on  the  segments.  The  common  Radish- 
worm  is  the  larva  of  Anthomyia  radicum.  The  larva  of 
Phorhia  fusciceps  is  a  general  feeder  in  roots  of  cabbage, 
radish,  onions,  seed  corn,  and  the  like.  It  is  an  importa- 
tion from  Europe,  first  noted  in  this  country  in  1856. 
The  common  Cabbage-maggot  is  the  larva  of  Phorhia 
brassiccB,  which  also  attacks  cauliflower  and  radishes. 
Just  as  the  plants  are  commencing  to  make  a  good  growth, 
they  suddenly  wilt  and  die  although  not  cut  off  as  by  a 
Noctuid  larva.  Old  cabbage  stumps  should  not  be  allowed 
to  stay  in  the  garden,  as  they  harbor  late-generation 
larvae  and  overwintering  pupae.  A  troublesome  pest  in 
onion  bulbs  is  the  Imported  Onion-maggot  (Phorbia 
cepetorum),  although  the  native  Phorbia  ceparum  does 
some  damage  (ChcBtopsis  cBnea  of  the  Ortalidae  is  another 
onion  maggot).  The  larvae  of  Phorbia  rubivora  girdle 
the  inner  bark  of  the  tips  of  young  raspberry  and  black- 
berry shoots.  The  larvae  of  Pegomyia  vicina  make  tortu- 
ous mines  and  large  blotches  in  the  leaves  of  beet  and 
spinach.  Pupation  takes  place  in  loose  soil  or  under  fallen 
leaves.  Chittenden  notes  that  "in  many  cases  infestation 
can  be  traced  directly  to  the  insect  having  bred  in  lambs- 
quarters  and  similar  weeds."  Ophyra  leucostoma  breeds  in 
excrement. 

Especially    in    May   and    June    this,    at 
Homalomyia        ^^^^  g-gj^^-^  g^^^jj  edition  of  Musca  domestica 

is  sometimes  abundant  in  houses.  Those 
who  do  not  know  that  insects  do  not  grow  after  getting 
functional  wings  believe  them  to  be  the  young  of  the  larger 
and  more  common  insect.  However,  all  the  veins  run 
without  sharp  bends  to  the  margins  of  the  wings.     The 

263 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


early  spring  adults  have  probably  been  hibernating  in 
the  house.  The  larvae  of  the  Lesser  House-fly  live  in 
waste  vegetable  matter,  in  the  manure  of  different  animals, 
and  especially  in  human  excrement.  They  have  also 
been  found  in  yellow-jacket  (Vespa)  nests  where  they  were 
probably  cleaning  up  the  debris. 

MuSCIDiE 

Insect  pests,  as  well  as  diseases,  were  formerly  taken 
very  much  as  matters  of  course.  Indeed,  some  people 
went  further  and  gave  reasons  why  they  should  be  con- 
sidered blessings  exceedingly  well  disguised.  We  have 
long  since  started  to  fight  all  diseases  by  all  the  means 
we  can  command  and  when  this  fight  leads  us  to  certain 
insects  which  are  the  transmitters  of  these  diseases,  it  is 
only  logical  that  we  should  combat  those  particular  insects 
as  well.  Although  this  little  book  mentions  a  large  num- 
ber of  the  insects  which  injure  our  persons  and  pocket- 
books,  such  represent  a  very  small  proportion  of  all  insects; 
they  have  been  given  space  because  they  are  common  and 
asked  about.  The  best  that  can  be  said  of  common  house- 
flies  is  that  they  are  scavengers;  but  they  are  scavengers 
which  come  from  their  dirty  surroundings  to  our  tables 
without  disinfecting  themselves.  Furthermore,  however 
useful  they  may  have  been  in  the  past,  we  are  now  able  to 
attend  to  cleaning  up  the  civilized  portions  of  the  world 
in  a  more  cleanly  way  than  by  employing  creatures  which 
insist  upon  tracking  the  disease-laden  dirt  over  our  food 
and  our  persons. 

According  to  Dr.  L.  O.  Howard,  22,808  out  of  23,087 
flies  actually  captured  on  fly-paper  in  dining-rooms  were 
Musca  domestica.  The  remaining  three  hundred,  or  so, 
consisted  of  a  number  of  different  species.  I  have  ar- 
ranged a  chart  (see  p.  265)  which  shows  that  the 
Common  House-fly,  the  Disease-carrying  Fly,  is  the  only 
species  which  is  very  abundant  both  in  dining-rooms  and 
on  one  of  several  things  which  we  dislike  to  think  of  in 
connection  with  dining-rooms.  "Swat  the  fly  "  but,  better 
still,  prevent  its  breeding  by  doing  away  with,  or  screening, 
all  possible  breeding  places  within  a  mile  of  your  house. 

264 


FLIES  FOUND  ON  HUMAN  EXCREMENT 


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Drosophila  melanogaster 
Stomoxys  calcitrans 

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Pollenia  rudis 
Calliphora  erythrocephala 

Sarcophaga  sarracenice 
Ophyra  leucostoma 
P seudopyrellia  ccesarion 
Myospila  fneditabunda 

Sphcerocera  subsultans 
Borborus  equinus 

> 

26  = 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Fifteen  genera,  including  a  total  of  twenty  species,  have 
been  found  within  fifty  miles  of  New  York  City  and  are  so 
widely  distributed  that  they  are  to  be  looked  for  throughout 
the  United  States  and,  indeed,  the  whole  world.  Still 
another  eastern  genus  {Protocalliphora)  has  the  disagree- 
able habit  of  breeding  in  nestling  birds,  causing  their 
death.  It  is  hoped  that  the  following  key,  taken  in  connec- 
tion with  the  descriptions  and  figures,  will  enable  the 
careful  student  to  identify  the  common  species. 

1 .  Proboscis  long,  slender,  homy,  adapted  for  piercing .  .  2. 
Proboscis  not  so,  having    fleshy    labellas  ("lips")  at 

the  tip 3, 

2.  Dark  ash-gray,  with  a  faint  tinge  of  yellow;  thorax 
and  abdomen  with  no  distinct  markings;  not  larger 
than  Musca  domestica;  palpi  nearly  as  long  as  the 
proboscis Hmmatobia  irritans. 

Palpi  much  shorter  than  the  proboscis 

Stomoxys  calcitrans. 

3.  Thorax  with  a  fairly  distinct  median  dark  stripe. 
(When  the  stripe  is  very  faint  try  15) 4. 

Thorax  with  the  median   stripe   light,  or  thorax  with 
no  distinct  stripes 6. 

4.  Abdomen  non-metallic  in  color,  spotted  or  macu- 
lated   Graphomyia    maculata. 

Abdomen  metallic  blue  or  green ;  not  maculated 5. 

5.  Face  light  yellow;  thorax  metallic,  stripes  very 
distinct Chrysomyia  macellaria. 

Face    reddish-brown;     thorax    non-metallie;     stripes 
rather  indistinct Cynomyia  cadaverina. 

6.  Abdomen  opaque  brown,  a  pair  of  triangular  black 
spots  on  each  of  the  second  and  third  abdominal  segments 
of  the  male.  These  spots  are  faint  or  wanting  in  the 
female Myospila  meditabunda. 

Abdomen  not  marked  in  this  way 7. 

7.  The  4th  longitudinal  vein  slightly  bent 8. 

The  4th  longitudinal  vein  sharply  bent 10. 

8.  First  posterior  cell  narrowly  contracted  at  the  margin; 
bluish-black,  shining;  the  tip  of  the  scutellum  not  reddish; 
the  median  light  stripe  on  the  thorax  more  distinct  than 
the  others Morellia  micans. 

266 


KEY  TO  MUSCID^ 


First  posterior  cell  scarcely  contracted  at  the  margin 
black,  not  shining;  tip  of  scutellum  reddish 9 

9.  Legs  and  palpi  wholly  black Muscina  assimilis 

Legs  and  palpi  partly  or  wholly  yellow 

Muscina  stahulans 

10.  Abdomen  non-metallic 11 

Abdomen  metallic 12 

11.  Thorax  without  distinct  stripes  and  usually  covered 
with  a  yellowish  "dust";  more  than  two  pairs  of  acrostical 
bristles;  two  anterior  and  three  posterior  dorso-centrals. 

Pollenia  rudis. 

Thorax  with  distinct  stripes  only  in  front,  if  at  all; 
not  more  than  two  pairs  of  acrostical  bristles;  two  anterior 
and  four  posterior  dorso-centrals .  .  .  Myospila  meditabunda. 

Thorax  with  four  stripes;  not  more  than  two  pairs  of 
acrostical  bristles;  three  anterior  and  four  posterior  dorso- 
centrals Musca  domestica. 

12.  Metallic  between  the  eyes;  a  prominent  bristle  on 
inner  surface  of  each  middle  tibia .  .Pseudopyrellia  casarion. 

Not  so 13' 

13.  Abdomen  grayish PoUeiiia  rudis. 

Abdomen  greenish  or  bluish I4« 

14.  Thorax  not  metalHc;  no  spines  on  the  3rd  longitudinal 
vein  except  at  its  junction  with  the  2nd i5« 

Thorax  and  abdomen  bright  metallic  blue  or  green; 
spines  on  the  first  section  of  the  3rd  longitudinal  vein.  .  .17. 

15.  Distal  third  of  arista  naked;  bucca  ("cheeks")  red 
in  front,  black  behind Cynomyia  cadaverina. 

Distal  third  of  arista  bearing  some  hairs;  bucca 
unicolorous.     Calliphora 16. 

16.  Bucca    black,   beard    red C.  vomitoria. 

Bucca  brownish  or  reddish,  beard  black 

C.  erythrocephala. 
Bucca  black,  beard  black C.  viridescens. 

17.  Two  stout  bristles  on  dorsal  posterior  margin  of  the 
2nd  abdominal  segment Lucilia  sylvarum. 

Not  so 18. 

18.  Acrostical  bristles  in  front  of  the  transverse  suture 
wanting  or  feebly  developed i9» 

Acrostical  bristles  in  front  of  the  transverse  suture 

well  developed 20. 

267 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


19.  Posterior  acrosticals  feebly  developed;  thorax  some- 
what flattened  between  the  suture  and  the  scutellum; 
usually    bluish-black;    squamae    brownish 

Protophormia  terra-nova. 

Posterior  acrosticals  moderately  developed;  thorax 

not  flattened;  dark  greenish  or  bluish;  squamae,  whitish. 

Phormia  regina. 

20.  Having  two  posterior  acrosticals;  greenish  or 
bluish Lucilia  ccesar . 

Having    three    posterior    acrosticals;     greenish    or 
bronzy,  rarely  bluish Lucilia  serricata. 

Plate  LXIX.     The  name  Texas  Fly  was 

Haematobia  based  on  the  supposition  that  this  species 
irntans  .    .  ^^  ^ 

originated    in    the    West.     It    came    from 

Europe  to  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia  about  1887  and  is 

now  found  from  Canada  to  the  Gulf  and  at  least  as  far 

west  as  Idaho.     It  was  formerly  abundant  in  the  East  but 

is  now  quite  rare.     The  name  Horn-fly  comes  from  the 

habit  which  the  adults  have  of  clustering  about  the  base 

of  the  horns  of  cattle  to  suck  blood.     The  larvae  live  in 

cow  dung. 

The  figure  (Plate  LXX)  and  the  piercing 
Stomoxys  mouth  parts  of  the  Biting  House-fly  make 

identification  easy.  Hough  says  that  speci- 
mens taken  on  the  borders  of  woods  often  have  brownish 
wings.  Their  superficial  resemblance  to  M.  domestica 
and  their  biting  habits  have  given  rise  to  the  error  that  the 
latter  species  is  adding  to  its  many  sins  by  sucking  blood. 
Both  sexes  suck  blood.  On  account  of  calcitrans  being 
more  troublesome  during  rains,  it  is  sometimes  called 
the  Storm-fly.  Another  common  name  is  Stable-fly. 
It  has  recently  been  accused  of  carrying  infantile  pa- 
ralysis. The  larvae  feed  on  a  wide  range  of  decaying 
matter,  including  fermenting  grass  cut  from  lawns, 
horse  manure,  and  human  excrement.  It  is  world-wide 
in  its  distribution. 


268 


Plate  LXIX 


Cynomyia  cadaverina  Graphomyia  maculata 


PseudopijrelliQ 
coesarion 


PolleniQ    . 
rudis, 


Phormia  reqina 


Muscma^tQbulQnS 


HoennQtobiQ      Morellia 
irritans  micana 


1-  lonqitudinal  vein" 
costal  vein 


:  QuxiliQry  vein 
;      I         postal  eel 


Myospila 
medilQbundQ 


H'-^  lonqitudinal  vein 


269 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Plate  LXIX.     The  squamae  are  slightly 

Graphomyia        dusky.     Some,    at   least,    American    speci- 

mens  lack  the  yellowish   color  which  has 

been  recorded  for  the  European  ones  on  the  scutellum. 

The  larvas  are  said  to  live  in  excrement. 


This  species  (Plate  LXX)  varies  from 
^^^^n°aT'*  .25  to  .50  in.  in  length.  The  normal 
food  of  the  larvae  is  carrion.  Pupation 
usually  occurs  in  earth  or  moist  debris.  The  mature 
larva  is  .75  in.  long  and  is  provided  with  a  ring  of  bristles 
between  each  pair  of  segments.  These  and  its  pointed 
shape  make  it  somewhat  resemble  a  screw,  hence  the 
common  name.  Screw-worm.  They  occasionally  feed  on 
living  animals,  including  man,  the  eggs  being  laid  in  open 
wounds  or  in  the  nose.  In  the  latter  case,  the  larvae  work 
their  way  into  the  cavities  of  the  head  and  sometimes 
cause  death. 


Adults  (Plate  LXIX)  range  from  .25  to 
Cynomyia  ^^  ^^^  ^^  length.     The  thorax  is  slaty-black, 

with  indistinct  stripes  on  the  anterior 
portion.  It  is  very  difficult  to  cite  good  characters  for 
separating  this  insect  from  Calliphora.  However,  common 
species  of  Calliphora  do  not  usually  have  markings  on  the 
thorax;  if  they  have,  the  markings  are  indistinct  and  not 
as  described  for  this  species.  Furthermore,  the  buccae 
of  cadaverina  are  grayish-black  posteriorly  and  brown  to 
reddish  anteriorly;  those  of  Calliphora  are  usually  uni- 
colorous.  Although  the  adults  are  captured  about  excre- 
ment, it  is  probable  that  the  larvae  feed  exclusively  on 
decaying  flesh. 


Plate  LXIX.     The  squamae  are  yellowish. 
Myospila  /pj^^  larvae  live  in  excrement.     Only  a  few 

(several  dozen)  eggs  are  laid  by  each  female. 
The  eggs  have  a  black  stripe  on  each  side  and,  as  continua- 
tions of  these,  a  black  curved  appendage.  This  fly  is 
common  to  both  Europe  and  America. 

270 


HOUSE=FLIES 

Except  that  the  tip  of  the  abdomen  is 
Morellia  brown  with  a  hoary  coating,  there  is  little 

which  need  be  added  to  the  characters  given 
in  the  key  and  Plate  LXIX.  The  larvae  breed  in  excre- 
ment, often  being  abundant  in  human  faeces.  The  life 
history  is  completed  in  about  three  weeks. 

Both  stabulans  (Plate  LXIX)  and  assimi- 
Muscina  , .  ,  .     , 

hs  are  a  bit  larger  and  more  robust  than 

M.  domestica.     The  tip  of  the  scutellum  may  be  reddish. 

The  larvae  feed  on  excrement  and  a  variety  of  decaying 

substances,  including  fungii  and  vegetables.     M.  stabulans 

has  been  reared  from  the  pupse  of  other  insects  but  the 

pupae  had  probably  died  first,  as  it  is  not  likely  that  the 

species  is  parasitic.     Both  species  are  widely  distributed 

in    Europe    and    America,    stabulans    usually    being    the 

commoner. 

In  addition   to  the  characters  given  in 
Pollenia  ^^^  ^      ^^^  pj^^^  LXIX,  it  might  be  said 

that  the  space  between  the  eyes  is  white. 
On  account  of  its  habit  of  overlapping  the  wings  when  at 
rest,  it  often  appears  narrower  than  domestica.  The  exact 
date  of  its  introduction  from  Europe  is  unknown.  It  has 
been  bred  from  manure,  but  probably  only  when  the 
manure  contained  earthworms  as  it  has  been  bred  from 
these  common  creatures.  The  adults  are  rather  sluggish 
and  have  been  called  Cluster-flies  from  their  habit  of 
congregating  in  masses,  especially  about  the  ceilings 
of  rooms.  They  are  looking  for  a  place  to  hibernate  and 
may  find  it  in  closets,  behind  curtains,  or  in  other  nooks. 
When  mashed,  these  flies  are  very  greasy  and  have  an 
odor  which  has  been  described  by  some  as  like  honey  and 
by  others  as  "very  disagreeable."  It  is  even  more  sus- 
ceptible to  attack  by  a  fungus  (Empusa)  than  is  M. 
domestica. 

Like  most   of   the  Muscidae,  the  sexes  of 

domestica  ^^^  House-  or  Disease-fly  (Plate  LXX)  may 

be  told  apart  by  the  fact  that  the  eyes  of 

the  males  are  nearer  together  than  they  are  in  the  females. 

271 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


The  sides  of  the  abdomen  of  the  males  are  brownish  near 
the  base  and  grayish  elsewhere.  The  females  are  grayish 
over  all  the  abdomen  with  a  variable  pattern  of  darker 
gray  or  black.  It  takes  the  egg  about  twelve  hours, 
on  the  average,  to  hatch.  In  about  five  days  the  larvae 
are  full-grown  and  the  pupal  stage  lasts  from  five  days  to  a 
month  or  longer.  The  puparium  is  the  old  larval  skin, 
liardened  and  brown.  Each  female  usually  lays  from  one 
to  two  hundred  eggs  in  the  garbage  or  manure  which  is  the 
food  of  the  larvse.  Adults  may  hibernate,  but  so  also  do 
pupae  and  larvae.     See  Homalomyia. 

Pseudopyrellia  ccBsarion  (Plate  LXIX)  is  easily  recog- 
nized by  the  characters  given  in  the  key,  especially  those 
in  couplet  12.  The  brilliant  blue  larvae  are  often  abundant 
in  cow  dung. 

^  „.  ,  Other   flies   besides    Calliplwra    "blow," 

Calliphora  .,     .    •      ,  ,  , 

that  is,  lay  eggs  on  meat,  but  the  name 

Blow-fly  is  usually  applied   to  members  of   this  genus. 

The  anatomy,   physiology,   and  development  of   C.  ery- 

throcephala  are  very  well  known,  thanks  to  Lowne's  classic 

work  and  Portchinski's  careful  observations.     The  other 

two  species  (see  the  key  and  Plate  LXX)  probably  differ 

but  little  from  it.      It  lays  several  hundred  small  eggs 

on  meat  and  dead  animals.     These  eggs  hatch  in  about 

twenty-four  hours  or  less,  sometimes  even  hatching  in  the 

female,  so  that  she  lays  living  larvae.     It  takes  a  week  or 

ten  days  to  reach  the  pupal  stage  and  then  about  two  weeks 

for  adults  to  emerge.     The  mature  larva  may  be  nearly 

or  quite  .75  in.  long.     Pupation  usually  takes  place  under 

the  food-mass  or  slightly  below  the  surface  of  the  ground. 

All  three  species  occur  also  in  Europe. 

,     ...  L.    sylvarum   is    the   bluest    Blue-bottle: 

LUClha  .1^,  ^  ■^r^T\     •  r 

ccesar  (Plate  LXX)  is  more  often  greenish; 
ftnd  sericata  usually  has  a  bronzy  gleam,  especially  on  the 
abdomen.  See  also  Phormia,  p.  273.  Carrion  is  their 
chief  larval  food  but  L.  ccesar  has  been  reared  from  excre- 
ment and  garbage.  The  life-histories  are  completed  in 
from  three  to  four  weeks  and  are  about  equally  divided 
between  larval  and  pupal  stages. 

272 


P^ATE    LXX 


MuscQ  domesticQ 


StomoxLjs 
CQlcitrans 


rysomyiQ 
macellQna 


CqI  !ipho/Q 
vomitoVia 


f}'6 


LUsClMQ 
'CQeSQP 


Sarcoph^Qga 
hcTemorrhoidQlis 


Drosophilo 
melanoqaster 


COMBATING  DANGEROUS  FLIES. 


Protophormia  terrce-novcB  is  about  .4  in.  long;  the  eyes 
of  the  male  are  closer  together  than  those  of  the  female 
but  not  so  close  as  in  the  male  of  Phormia  regina;  palpi, 
light  brown  or  yellowish;  prothoracal  stigma,  black; 
there  are  delicate  spines  along  the  proximal  half  of  the 
first  section  of  the  third  longitudinal  vein.  See  also  the 
next  species.  It  is  found  about  excrement  but  is  not 
usually  common. 

Phormia  regina  (Plate  LXIX)  is  fairly  common.  Its 
larvae  live  in  carrion.  The  palpi  are  tipped  with  black; 
prothoracal  stigma  red  or  yeUow;  and  the  spines  on  the 
third  vein  are  well  developed.  Both  it  and  the  preceding 
species  are  likely  to  be  confused  with  Lucilia,  but  in  that 
genus  the  front,  between  the  eyes,  is  usually  distinctly 
margined  with  white  and  it  is  not  in  these  species. 

Methods  of  Combating  Dangerous  Muscidas. 

The  usual  methods  employed  in  fighting  the  dangerous 
Muscidas  are  really  of  little  avail.  Sticky  fly-paper,  wire 
fly-traps,  and  poisons  wiU  undoubtedly  kill  a  large  number 
but  infinitely  more  are  breeding  where  these  came  from. 
Screening  our  windows  and  doors  will  undoubtedly  keep 
many  out  but  it  is  not  pleasant  to  live  in  a  cage.  Further- 
more, the  people  from  whom  we  buy  our  milk  and  other 
food-stuffs  may  not  be  so  careful.  The  only  thorough- 
going method  is  to  stop  the  trouble  at  its  source — prevent 
breeding.  If  we  could  do  away  with  the  breeding-places, 
or  make  them  unfit  for  fly-larvas,  or  keep  adult  flies  away 
from  them,  the  thing  would  be  done.  Nearly  all  the 
books  and  lecturers  say  that  this  is  easy.  It  is  well  to  be 
optimistic  but  better  to  recognize  the  whole  truth.  It 
cannot  be  done  easily. 

"The  remedy  is  simple,  effective,  practicable,  and 
inexpensive.  Destroy  their  breeding-places  and  you  will 
have  no  flies."  The  latter  sentence  is  manifestly  true. 
Stable  manure  should  be  kept  in  fly-proof  bins ;  treatment 
with  kerosene,  chlorid  of  lime,  etc.,  is  not  completely 
satisfactory.  Cess-pools  must  also  be  made  fly  proof. 
Privies  must  be  done  away  with,  or  all  traces  of  excre- 
ment removed  and  buried  deeply  at  least  once  a  week. 
18  273 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Garbage  must  be  buried  or  burned  as  often.  Every  bit  of 
organic  rubbish  must  either  be  kept  dry  or  be  destroyed. 
All  these  precautions  can  and  should  be  taken.  But — 
the  author  quoted  above  says  also:  "Of  course  your 
neighbor  must  keep  his  place  clean  too,  for  his  flies  are 
just  as  apt  to  come  into  your  house  [or  to  get  on  your  food 
at  the  dealer's]  as  his,  so  the  problem  becomes  one  for  the 
whole  community."  This  is  the  heart  of  the  matter. 
A  few  earnest  individuals  or  well-meaning  Improvement 
Societies,  acting  by  themselves,  can  do  little  more  than 
cause  a  great  deal  of  trouble  and  achieve  very  little  good. 
Laws  must  be  framed  and  enforced,  so  that  the  ignorant 
or  careless  may  not  make  of  Httle  or  no  avail  the  work 
of  the  intelligent  and  careful.  Dr.  Howard  has  well  said 
"//  is  the  duty  of  every  individual  to  guard,  so  far  as  possible, 
against  the  occurrence  of  flies  upon  his  premises.  It  is  the 
duty  of  every  community,  through  its  board  of  health,  to 
spend  money  in  the  warfare  against  this  enemy  of  mankind. 
This  duty  is  as  pronounced  as  though  the  community  were 
attacked  by  bands  of  ravenous  wolves.^' 


We  are  now  about  to  take  up  flies  which  are  in 
the  ACALYPTERATE  division  of  some  authors.  The 
squamae  are  small  or  vestigial;  the  first  longitudinal  vein 
is  short;  the  eyes  of  the  males  never  touch  each  other; 
and  the  thorax  is  without  a  complete  transverse  suture. 
For  the  most  part,  these  flies  are  small.  The  following 
families  are  those  most  likely  to  be  noticed. 

SCATOPHAGID^ 

Several  species  of  Scatophaga  (Plate  LXVIII)  are  com- 
mon about  cow-dung;  they  are  moderately  large,  yellow- 
haired  flies,  with  rather  sHm  bodies  and  longish  legs.  The 
adults  are  predaceous,  even  catching  honey-bees.  The 
larvae  live  in  excrement. 

BORBORIDiE 

This  is  a  small  family  of  minute,  active  flies  having  no 
distinct    auxiliary    vein;    the    first  (and    sometimes  the 

274 


ACALYPTERATE  FLIES. 


second)  joint  of  each  hind  tarsus  is  usually  short  and 
broad.  The  adults  of  Borhorus  and  Sphcerocera  are  often 
seen  in  clouds  about  the  excrement  in  which  the  larvae 
feed. 

The  Tetanocerid^  (or  Sciomyzidae)  are  somewhat 
sluggish,  usually  brown  or  yellow  flies,  many  of  which 
have  receding  chins  and  marking  on  the  wings.  See 
Tetanocera  (Plate  LXVIII).  They  are  usually  found 
in  moist  places,  the  larvae  being  aquatic. 

Sapromyza  (Plate  LXVIII)  is  fairly  typical  of  the 
Lauxaniid^.  The}'-  are  small  flies  whose  larvae  live  in 
decaying  vegetation. 

Ortalidid^ 

The  flies  of  this  and  the  next  family  have  prettily  marked 
wings.  The  distinctions  between  the  families  are,  for  the 
most  part,  rather  difficult  to  grasp;  perhaps  the  easiest 
concerns  the  auxiliary  vein.  In  the  Conopidas,  Sepsidae, 
Ortalididae,  and  other  families,  it  is  present  and  ends  dis- 
tinctly in  the  costa;  in  the  Trypetidae,  Drosophilidas,  and 
other  families  it  is  absent  or  incomplete.  In  the  three 
first-named  families,  the  first  longitudinal  vein  usually 
ends  in  the  costa,  near  or  beyond  the  middle  of  the  front 
margin;  in  the  two  last-named  ones,  it  usually  ends  before 
the  middle.  Numerous  species  of  Ortalididae  are  usually 
found  in  meadows  and  some  (e.  g.  Tritoxa  flexa,  Plate 
LXXI)  have  been  bred  from  onions  but  the  life-histories 
of  most  are  unknown.  The  same  plate  shows  Pyrgota 
undata. 

TRYPETIDiE 

The  Peacock  Flies  spend  much  of  their  time  strutting 
about  with  brown-  or  black-spotted  wings  elevated  and 
waved  back  and  forth.  Some  of  the  females  have  relatively 
long,  homy  ovipositors  at  the  tip  of  the  abdomens.  See 
Euaresta,  Plate  LXXI.  Most  of  the  larvae  live  in  plant 
tissues. 

275 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Adults  of  the  Apple  Maggot  (Plate  LXXI) 
Rhagoletis  ^^.^  ^^  ^^  found  from  July  to  September. 

By  means  of  her  sharp  ovipositor  the 
female  punctures  the  skin  of  the  apple  and  lays  her  eggs 
directly  in  the  pulp.  The  white  larvae,  which  taper  some- 
what toward  the  front,  make  winding  burrows  through  the 
pulp  and  attain  a  length  of  .25  in.  or  more.  They  then 
bore  out,  usually  after  the  apple  has  fallen,  and  go  about 
an  inch  underground  where  they  spend  the  winter  and 
spring  in  a  brownish  puparium. 

The  larvae  of  similar  flies,  Rhagoletis  cingulata  and 
R.  fausta,  are  the  cherry-worms,  known  to  us  all.  The 
currant  and  gooseberry  worm  is  the  larva  of  Epochra 
canadensis.  Several  species  make  galls  on  goldenrod 
stems  (see  p.  457),  others  mine  leaves,  live  in  roots,  berries, 
and  fruits  of  numerous  kinds,  but  practically  all  have 
wing-pattems  which  are  distinctive  of  the  species. 

PlOPHILIDiE 

Ever  see  Cheese  Skippers?  Probably  not  unless  you 
have  lived  moderately  long  or  quite  near  to  Nature.  The 
acrobats  are  larvae  of  Piophila  casei  (Plate  LXXI). 
They  are  about  .2  in.  long,  smooth,  and  tapered  toward 
the  front.  The  leap  is  accompHshed  by  holding  the  tail 
with  the  mouth,  pulHng  hard,  and  then  letting  go.  Why, 
I  do  not  know.  They  live  also  in  bacon  or  other  fatty 
material. 

Drosophilid^ 


The    little    red-eyed    Pomace-fly    (Plate 
Drosophila  LXX)— also  called  Sour  Fly  and  Vinegar- 

fly — is  sometimes  common  about  the  fruit 
basket  on  our  sideboard,  but  it  is  in  the  study  of  heredity 
and  sex  that  it  has  become  famous,  under  the  name  of 
D.  ampelophila.  Its  larvae  feed  on  ripe,  or  over-ripe, 
bananas  and  other  fruit,  also  on  vinegar,  stale  beer,  and 
the  like.  The  average  duration,  at  living-room  tempera- 
tures, of  the  egg  period  is  about  2  days;  of  the  larval 
period,  about  6  days;  and  of  the  pupal  period,  about  5 

276 


Plate  LXXI 


PyrqotQ 
undolQ 


EuQresto 
bellQ 


PiophilQ, 
CQsei 


TritoxQ  JlexQ 


Rhaqoletis   pomonello 


OljersiQ 
QmericQna       Meloghaqus 
ovinus 


CtenocephQlus 

CQnl5 


Pulex  irrltons 


277 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


days.  I  have  kept  unmated  adults  alive,  under  the  same 
conditions,  for  about  three  months.  A  bit  of  banana  in  a 
milk  bottle  is  all  the  apparatus  one  needs  to  breed  this 
creature  and  twenty  generations  a  year  are  easily  reared. 
These  facts  and  its  other  virtues  make  it  an  ideal  labora- 
tory animal.  Not  only  have  simple  cases  of  Mendelian 
inheritance  been  conveniently  studied  but  more  complex 
ones  and  also  the  relations  between  body-characteristics, 
including  sex,  and  the  chromosomes  in  the  germ-cells 
have  been  analyzed  by  its  aid.  The  adults  are  perfect 
slaves  to  light  (heliotropic).  Put  a  number  of  them  in  a 
bottle  and  they  will  all  crowd  to  the  part  which  is  nearest 
the  window,  no  matter  how  much  you  may  turn  the  bottle 
about.  The  males  are  a  trifle  smaller  than  the  females 
and  have  the  hind  part  of  the  abdomen  more  largely 
pigmented.  The  males  have  relatively  immense  "sex 
combs"  on  their  front  legs.  These  may  be  for  the  sake  of 
appearing  more  attractive  to  the  females,  as  the  males  go 
through  their  courtship  dance,  but,  on  numerous  occasions, 
I  cut  them  off  without  thereby  noticeably  decreasing  the 
success  of  the  combless  males  in  the  rivalry,  which  I  then 
staged,  with  normal  males.  The  "sex  combs"  may  be 
to  clean  his  antennae,  but  how  does  she  keep  hers  clean? 
They  may  just  happen  to  be. 

In  this  brief  review  of  the  Acalypterates  the  following, 
among  other,  families  have  been  skipped.  Heteroneuri- 
D^:  the  larvas  live  in  decaying  wood,  etc.,  and  "skip" 
like  Piophila.  Sepsid^:  Piophila  has  been  put  here; 
they  often  swarm  about  the  decaying  vegetables  and  excre- 
ment in  which  their  larvae  live.  Diopsid^  :  our  only  species 
is  Sphyracephala  brevicornis,  which  occurs  on  skunk- 
cabbage  and  may  be  recognized  by  its  eyes  being  on  stalks. 
Ephydrid^:  these  small  or  even  minute  flies  are  usually 
found  about  moist  places;  the  aquatic  larvae  of  some 
species  have  "rat- tails"  like  Eristalis  but  the  tail  is  forked; 
some  larvae  live  in  salt  or  alkaUne  water,  others  in  the  sap 
of  trees  and  in  leaves.  Agromyzid^:  numerous  small 
flies;  some  larvae  are  leaf -miners,  others  hve  in  plant-galls; 
others  feed  on  plant-lice,  creeping  like  leeches  or  Geometrid 
larvae. 

278 


TICKS  AND  FLEAS. 


PUPIPARA 


This  group  is  sometimes  given  the  rank  of  Suborder.  Its 
members  are  all  ectoparasites,  that  is,  they  live  on,  but  not 
in,  their  hosts.  They  are  called  Pupipara  because  the 
lar\'se  live  inside  the  mother  until  they  are  ready  to  pupate 
or  have  already  done  so.  The  wings  are  often  vestigal  or 
wanting.     They  are  probably  degenerate  Acalj^pterates. 

The  HiPPOBOSCiD^  (Plate  LXXI)  are  parasitic  upon 
birds  or  mammals.  The  more  commonly  observed  of  the 
winged  species  belong  to  Olfersia  and  live  on  hawks  and 
owls.  A  wingless  species  is  the  sheep-tick,  Melophagus 
ovinus. 

Members  of  the  family  Nycteribiid^,  also  of  Stre- 
BLiD^,  usually  have  no  wings,  although  the  halteres  are 
retained.  Almost  without  exception,  they  are  parasitic 
on  bats. 

SUCTORIA 

The  adult  Fleas  are  small,  wingless,  laterally  com- 
pressed, jumping,  sucking  insects  which  are  parasitic  upon 
warm-blooded  animals  including  man.  The  larvae  (Plate 
LXXI)  are  worm-like;  they  live  in  rubbish  and  dust,  such 
as  accumulates  at  the  edges  of  carpets  and  in  the  folds  of 
upholstery.  The  pupse  are  enclosed  in  cocoons.  The 
family  Pulicid^  contains  the  common  Dog-flea,  Cteno- 
cephalus  cajiis;  the  usually  rare  (with  us)  Human-flea, 
Pulex  irritans  (thorax  and  head  shown  in  Plate  LXXI); 
and  a  Rat-flea,  Ceratophyllus  fasciatus,  which  transmits 
plague  in  temperate  regions.  The  Jigger-flea  or  Chigoe, 
Dermatophilus  penetrans,  of  the  Dermatophilid^,  is 
confused  with  the  Jigger  or  Chigger,  which  is  a  small  red 
Mite  and  also  burrows  into  human  skin.  It  infests  domes- 
tic animals  and  birds,  as  well  as  man.  The  male  feeds 
externally  but  the  female  works  her  way  under  the  skin, 
causing  a  serious  ulcer  through  which  the  eggs  are  released. 

279 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


COLEOPTERA 


Beetles  may  usually  be  recognized,  when  adult,  by  the 
fact  that  their  front  wings  ("elytra")  are  hardened.  The 
elytra  usually  do  not  overlap  but  meet  in  a  line  (the  "su- 
ture") along  the  middle  of  the  back;  in  all  Staphylinid^, 
and  in  some  other  groups,  they  do  not,  however,  com- 
pletely cover  the  abdomen.  They  have  chewing  mouth- 
parts.  Metamorphosis  is  complete.  The  larvae  have  no 
abdominal  legs  except  (often)  on  the  last  joint.  Twelve  or 
fifteen  thousand  species  are  known  from  North  America. 
The  student  who  desires  to  specialize  is  referred  to  the 
following  two  books,  from  which  many  of  the  concise 
descriptions  given  here  have  been  copied: 

Blatchley,  W.  S.  An  illustrated  descriptive  catalogue  of  the 
Coleoptera  or  Beetles  {exclusive  of  the  Rhynchophora) 
known  to  occur  in  Indiana. 

Blatchley,  W.  S.  and  Leng,  C.  W.  Rhynchophora  or 
Weevils  of  North-Eastern  America. 

Coleoptera  are  divided  by  Sharp  into  the  following  six 
series,  not  counting  Strepsiptera  (p.  405).  For  the  con- 
venience of  American  students,  I  have  followed  the  order 
of  arrangement  which  is  in  general  use  in  America.  After 
some  familiarity  with  the  various  groups  has  been  gained 
by  matching  specimens  with  the  pictures,  the  student  will 
be  able  to  assign  most  beetles  to  their  proper  family  on 
"general  appearance." 

ADEPHAGA.  Tarsi  5-jointed,  the  fourth  quite  dis- 
tinct; antennae  thread-like  or  nearly  so,  never  lamelli- 
form;  abdomen  with  one  more  exposed  segment  at  the 
sides  than  along  the  middle,  the  numbers  usually  being  five 
and  six.     See  p.  281. 

POLYMORPHA.  Antennae  frequently  with  either  a 
club,  i.  e.,  the  terminal  joints  broader  than  the  others  (the 
Clavicorns),  or  the  joints  from  the  third  onwards  more  or 
less  saw-like,  the  serrations  being  on  the  inner  face  (the 
Serricoms) ;  but  these  and  all  other  characters,  including 
the  number  of  joints  in  the  feet,  very  variable.  See 
p.  292. 

280 


TIGER-BEETLES. 


LAMELLICORNIA.  Tarsi  5-jointed;  antennae  with 
the  three,  or  more,  terminal  joints  leaf-hke  (or  at  least 
broader  than  the  others),  forming  a  club,  the  leaves  of 
which  are  movable  and,  in  repose,  fit  together  so  as  to 
appear  to  be  one  piece.     See  p.  324. 

PHYTOPHAGA.  Tarsi  apparently  4-jointed,  the 
three  basal  joints  usually  densely  set  with  cushion-like 
pubescence  beneath;  the  third  joint  different  from  the 
others  in  form,  being  divided  into  two  lobes,  or  grooved 
on  its  upper  surface  so  as  to  allow  the  fourth  joint  to  be 
inserted  near  its  base  instead  of  at  its  extremity;  sometimes 
the  tarsus  is  distinctly  5-jointed,  a  very  small  fourth  joint 
being  apparent.  Head  not  forming  a  definite  prolonged 
beak.     See  p.  336. 

HETEROAIERA.  Front  and  middle  tarsi  5-jointed, 
hind  tarsi  4-jointed;  other  characters  variable.     See  p.  380. 

RHYNCHOPHORA.  Head  usually  more  or  less  pro- 
longed in  front  to  form  a  snout  or  beak;  tarsi  apparently 
4-jointed  but  with  a  very  minute  additional  joint  at  the 
extreme  base  of  the  last  joint,  usually  at  least  the  third 
joint  broad  and  densely  pubescent  beneath.     See  p.  393. 

ADEPHAGA 

These  are  typically  carnivorous,  both  as  larvae  and  as 
adults.  The  larvae,  which  are  usually  very  active,  have 
two  claws  on  each  tarsus.  The  Cicindelidae  and  Carabidae 
are  terrestrial  and  bear  numerous  fine,  erect,  bristle-like 
hairs,  especially  beneath;  the  others  are  aquatic  and  very 
smooth. 

ClCINDELID^ 

The  adult  Tiger-beetles  have  their  eleven- jointed  antennae 
fastened  to  the  front  of  the  head  above  the  base  of  the 
mandibles.  These  beetles  have  much  recumbent  hair, 
as  well  as  erect  bristles;  the  eyes  are  prominent;  the  head 
is  held  vertically  and  is  wider  than  the  thorax.  "They 
are  long-legged,  rather  slender,  active  beetles,  predatory 
in  habit,  living  usually  in  open  sandy  places,  and  flying 
readily  when  disturbed.  The  larvae  are  uncouth  creatures, 
with  large  head  and  prominent  jaws,  that  live  in  vertical 

281 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


burrows  [usually]  in  sandy  soil,  watching  at  the  mouth 
for  such  unwary  creatures  as  may  come  their  way  "  (Smith). 
The  larvae  have  a  hump  on  the  fifth  abdominal  segment; 
this  hump  is  provided  with  forward-pointing  hooks  that 
help  the  larvae  to  hold  back  if  their  prey  should  try  to 
get  away.  See  Plate  LXXII.  The  burrow,  which  is 
often  a  foot  or  more  deep  and  w^ithin  which  the  larva 
pupates,  may  be  recognized  by  the  smooth,  circular  depres- 
sion, worn  by  the  larva's  feet,  surrounding  the  opening. 

Tetracha  of  the  South  and  Omus  of  the 
West  Hve  more  like  Carabidse  but  Cicindela 
is  the  largest  genus  of  the  family  and  the  one  whose  habits 
have  just  been  described.  The  following  are  some  of  the 
common  species  in  the  Northeast.  C.  dorsalis  (Plate 
LXXII)  is  white  with  variable  black  markings;  along 
the  sea-shore  in  July.  Plate  LXXIII  shows  generosa, 
which  lives  on  sandy  plains,  and  sexguttata  (the  number  of 
w^hite  dots  is  variable)  of  sunny,  woodland  paths.  C. 
repanda,  of  pond  and  river  banks,  is  bronzy-brown  above 
with  three  white  marks  on  each  elytron:  one  (the  "humeral 
lunule")  at  the  shoulder,  one  (the  "apical  lunule")  at  the 
apex,  and  one,  which  is  somewhat  like  an  eighth-note 
in  music,  in  the  middle.  C.  hirticollis  is  Hke  it  but  hairier 
and  the  humeral  lunule  is  upturned  at  the  tip.  C.  tran- 
queharica  is  larger  (about  .6  in.  long),  the  tip  of  the  humeral 
lunule  is  down- turned;  frequents  sandy  roads.  The 
last  three  are  most  commonly  found  in  spring  and  fall. 
C.  punctulata,  which  is  dark  above  (greenish-blue  beneath) 
except  for  white  dots,  is  abundant  on  roads,  garden  paths, 
and  even  city  streets,  flying  freely  to  light  in  midsummer; 
each  elytron  has  a  row  of  green  punctures  along  the  suture 
in  addition  to  densely  placed,  uncolored  ones.  C.  modesta 
is  black  and  C.  rugifrons  is  green,  each  with  three  large 
white  spots;  found  in  pine  barrens. 

CARABIDiE 

Most  of  the  many  Ground-beetles  are  plain  black  or 
brown.  The  antennae  of  the  adults  start  from  the  side  of 
the  head  between  the  base  of  the  mandibles  and  the  eyes, 
which  are  usually  of  moderate  size;  ornamental  hairs  are 

282 


Plate  LXXII 


qer  beetle  lorvQ 


'CicindelQ  dorsalis 


Cychrus 
eievQtus 


Horpalus 
Corabus  CQliginosus 

vinctu$ 


Pasimachus 
depressus 


Pteroblichus 
Dicoelus      lucublQndu5 
elonqatus 


'>«i 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


found  only  in  Brachynus  and  ChlcBnius  but  erect  setae  are 
present  and  are  important  in  technical  classification;  the 
head  is  held  horizontally  or  slightly  inclined  and  is  usually 
narrower  than  the  thorax.  Although  some  bright-colored 
Lebiini  hunt  by  day  on  plants,  the  majority  hide  under 
stones  or  other  cover.  If  disturbed,  they  run  rapidly  but 
rarely  fly  except  at  night,  when  some  species  swarm  about 
lights.  They  are  beneficial  because  of  their  predaceous 
habits;  the  musky  odor  of  many  species  telling  of  their 
diet  of  flesh.  The  larvae  are  relatively  long,  and  rather 
flat;  they  have  sharp,  projecting  mandibles  and  a  pair  of 
posterior  bristly  appendages;  they  usually  live  in  under- 
ground burrows,  pupating  in  small  earthen  cells. 

Cychrus  is  a  genus  (late  authors  divide  it  into  several 
genera)  which  is  usually  rather  rare  and,  since  the  violet 
or  brownish-purple  beetles  are  of  good  size,  they  are 
often  sought  by  collectors.  The  pronotum  is  more  or  less 
turned  up  at  the  edges.  The  head  and  mandibles  are 
long,  narrow,  and  straight,  so  that  they  may  be  thrust 
into  snail-shells  in  order  to  draw  out  the  owners;  the  palpi 
are  shaped  like  a  long-handled  spoon.  As  might  be  guessed, 
they  are  to  be  found  only  where  snails  are  common:  in 
moist  woods  and  similar  places.     See  Plate  LXXII. 

Carabus  may  be  separated  from  Calosoma  by  the  fact 
that  the  former  has  the  third  joint  of  the  antennae  cylindri- 
cal and  the  latter  has  it  compressed. 

The  species  of  Carabus  are  black  or  brown- 
ish-black, and  about  an  inch  long.  C. 
sylvosus:  margins  of  the  turned-up  pronotum  and  of 
elytra  blue;  striae  on  elytra  veiy  fine;  usually  in  sandy 
woods.  C.  serratus:  m^argins  of  pronotum  (slightly  turned 
up)  and  of  elytra  violet;  elytra  with  two  or  three  slight 
notches  in  the  margin  near  the  base;  usually  in  damp 
places.  C.  limbatus:  bluish  margins;  pronotum  a  half 
wider  than  long;  elytra  deeply  striate;  usually  in  moist 
upland  woods.  C.  vinctus  (Plate  LXXII) :  bronzed,  prono- 
tum with  a  greenish  tinge  at  borders;  usually  under  bark  in 
low,  moist  woods.  All  may  be  caught  by  sinking  bottles 
or  cans,  baited  with  molasses,  in  the  soil. 

284 


CATERPILLAR-HUNTING  BEETLES. 


These  are  usually  found,  under  cover, 
in  gardens,  fields,  and  open  woods.  They 
are  often  abundant  at  light.  Their  common  name, 
Caterpillar  Hunters,  should  recommend  them,  as  it  is 
well  given.  Plate  LXXIII  gives  sufficient  help  in  identify- 
ing calidum  and  scrutator.  C.  externum  is  about  1.25  in. 
long;  margins  of  pronotum  and  elytra  blue;  pronotum 
with  the  sides  rounded,  flattened,  and  turned  up  behind. 
Mr.  Davis  told  of  a  "specimen  which  was  found  under  an 
electric  light  and  squirted  its  acrid  fluid  into  my  face  at  a 
distance  of  about  a  foot."  They  will  do  that  sometimes. 
C.  willcoxi  is  similar  to  scrutator  but  only  about  .75  in. 
long;  the  thorax  is  relatively  narrower,  and  the  margins 
of  the  elytra  are  sometimes  green.  C.  frigidum:  about 
.8  in.  long;  black  above,  greenish-black  below;  pronotum 
and  elytra  with  narrow,  green  margins;  spots  on  elytra, 
green.  C.  sayi:  similar,  but  found  from  N.  Y.  southward 
while  frigidum  occurs  from  N.  Y.  northward.  C.  syco- 
phanta  has  recently  been  introduced  from  Europe  to  aid  in 
fighting  the  Brown-tail  Aloth. 


„.    .  Even    after    I    was    supposed    to    know 

Elaphrus  ,  .  ,  ^  ,  ,.        •    1 

something   about   Entomology    1    tried    to 

place  E.  ruscarius  in  Cicindela.     All  of  the  genus  have  the 

general  form  of  Tiger-beetles,  but  they  are  smaller  and 

lack  the  ornamental  hairs.     They  inhabit  sand-bars  and 

mud-flats.     E.  ruscarius  is  about  .25  in.  long;  dull  brassy 

above,   metallic  green    beneath;   the    numerous,   circular 

impressions  on  the  elytra  are  purplish;  legs,  reddish-brown. 

Adults  have  been  taken  at  Christmas  time  as  far  north  as 

Indiana. 


^    .       ,  A  black  Carabid,  which  is  an  inch  or  so 

Pasimachus  ,  .      ,  ,  .     ,. 

long  and  whose  pronotum  seems  too  big  for 

it  (suggesting  a  collar  that  has  come  loose  and  moved  up 
the  neck),  probably  belongs  to  this  genus.  They  occur 
especially  where  the  soil  is  sandy,  and  are  caterpillar  hun- 
ters. P.  depressus  (Plate  LXXII)  is  blue-margined,  but 
often  faintly.  P.  suhlcevis  occurs  on  the  beach;  the 
pronotum  and  elytra  are  margined   (often  faintly)   with 

2^^ 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


blue;  pronotum  squarish  but  pushed  in  at  the  front  and 
somewhat  bulged  at  the  sides;  tip  of  closed  elytra  rounded. 

Scarites  Species  of  Scarites  are  narrow;  the  pro- 

notum is  rounded  behind  and  somewhat 
"too  big";  the  wide,  flat  front  tibiae  are  toothed.  The 
common  species  of  our  gardens  is  suhterraneus.  It  is 
usually  less  than  .8  in.  long;  the  southern  suhstriatus  may 
be  only  a  large  variety  of  it  (an  inch  or  more  in  length). 
These  species  are  shiny  black;  the  head  has  two,  deeply 
indented,  parallel  lines;  the  sides  of  the  squarish  pronotum 
are  nearly  straight  and  it  is  separated  from  the  elytra  by  a 
neck;  the  eltrya  are  distinctly  striate.  They  are  often 
turned  up  in  gardens  and  feign  death  by  holding  the  body 
rigid  for  a  time,  but  soon  run  off  to  shelter. 

Omophron  Circular,  yellow  beetles,  tessellated  with 

dark  green,  that  live  by  day  in  the  damp 
sand  of  brook  and  pond  shores  and  come  out  at  night  to 
seek  their  prey.     0.  americanum  is  our  common  species. 

Numerous,  small  species  of  Dyschirius  and  Clivina  Hve 
in  damp  soil,  especially  sandy  or  muddy  banks,  and  may 
be  collected  by  throwing  water  on  the  banks,  forcing  the 
beetles  out  of  the  ground  for  air  or  to  satisfy  their  curiosity 
as  to  the  state  of  the  weather.  They  are  usually  less 
than  .4  in.  long  and  have  two  bristle-bearing  punctures 
above  each  eye  and  at  each  hind  angle  of  the  pronotum. 
Pasimachus  and  Scarites  have  only  one  at  each  of  these 
places.  The  pronotum  of  Dyschirius  is  globular  or  oval 
and  that  of  Clivina  is  squarish.  Other,  less  common, 
genera  may  be  distinguished  from  Dyschirius  and  Clivina 
by  the  fact  that  their  front  tarsi  are  dilated,  while  those  of 
D.  and  C.  are  slender,  and  by  the  absence  of  a  neck  be- 
tween the  thorax  and  the  elytra.  Bembidiitm  and  Tachys 
are  remarkable  for  the  speed  with  which  they  move  and 
are  easily  recognized  by  the  short,  sharp,  needle-like  last 
palpal  joint.  Bemhidium  quadrimactdatum,  less  than 
.15  in.  long,  with  four  conspicuous  yellow  spots,  is  common 
in  gardens.  Tachys  nanus,  all  black,  and  Tachys  flavi- 
cauda,  brown  with  a  yellow  tip,  both  less  than  .12  in.  long 
are  common  imder  the  bark  of  dead  trees. 

286 


Plate  LXXIII 


,* 


Cicindela 
sexqullQto.         qenerosa 


Lebia 
grondis 


''c  Q 1 1  d  u  nV 


Calosomo 


Plaiynus  _ 
cupripennis     ^ 


Aqonoderus 
pallipes 


xV 


BrQchinus   lumans 


BRACHINUS,  THE  BOMBARDIER. 


_         .  The    members    of    this   large   genus   are 

Pterostichus 

among  the  most  common  of  the  Carabidae, 

but  it  is  difficult  to  describe,  without  technicalities,  even 

lucuhlandus,  which    lives  in  tilled    fields.     Plate    LXXII 

shows  its  general  form;  its  color  is  greenish  or  bluish. 

Amara  and  Platynus  (Plate  LXXIII)  are  related  and  also 

large  genera.     All  the  species  are  small.     Amara  angustata, 

shining  bronze,  is  common  in  gardens,  running  rapidly  on 

paths  in  midsummer,  especially  when  weeding  operations 

disturb  its  shelter. 

Similar  to  the  preceding,   but   differing 
sufficiently  in  form  to  be  recognized  from 
the  illustration  on  Plate  LXXII   is  Diccslus  elongatus,  a 
black,  shiny  beetle  often  found  under  stones. 

A  slender  Carabid,  .75  in.  long,  with 
blackish  head  and  elytra,  and  a  narrow, 
reddish-brown  pronotum,  is  fairly  certain  to  be  this  genus; 
if  the  head  is  strongly  rounded  behind  the  eyes,  it  is 
probably  janus.  G.  bicolor  is  similar  but  has  the  back 
of  the  head  tapering,  rather  than  rounded.  They  are 
often  abundant  about  lights  but  their  home  is  in  fence 
rows  or  open  woodlands.  The  larvae  are  bluish  and 
yellow. 

Plate  LXXIII  shows  a  species,  grandis^ 
which  is  credited  with  feeding  on  the  eggs 
and  young  larvae  of  potato  beetles.  It  is  fairly  typical, 
although  one  of  the  largest,  of  its  genus,  the  members  of 
which  live  under  stones  and  leaves  but  often  climb  plants 
to  feed  on  injurious  insects.  Their  tarsi  are  comb-like, 
a  feature  which  probably  helps  them  in  climbing,  and  the 
elytra  are  square-cut  at  apex. 

The  beetles  mentioned  from  Bembidium  (p.  286)  to  this 
point  have  two  bristle-bearing  punctures  above  each  eye. 
The  Carabidae  which  follow  have  but  one. 

These  beetles  (Plate  LXXIII)  have  the 

tip  of  the  elytra  square-cut;   the  head  is 

tapering  behind  and  both  it  and   the   thorax  are  very 

287 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS 


narrow,  as  compared  with  the  abdomen.  They  occur  on 
the  ground  under  things,  usually  in  damp  places.  Many 
Carabidas,  when  disturbed,  give  off  a  defensive  fluid  from 
a  gland  at  the  end  of  the  abdomen  but  species  of  Brachi- 
nus  do  it  with  a  distinct  "pop."  For  this  reason,  they 
are  called  Bombardier  Beetles,  The  discharged  fluid 
is  either  volatile  or  it  is  shot  out  in  a  fine  spray,  so  that 
it  looks  like  smoke. 

Under  stones  and  logs  in  damp  places 
are  often  found  Carabidae  with  a  pro- 
nounced musky  odor  and  brilliant,  bronzed  or  green, 
backs,  very  finely  clothed  with  short  hair.  C.  sericeus 
is  all  green,  .6  in.  long,  with  yellow  legs,  while  other  species 
of  the  genus  are  smaller  and  variously  colored. 

„       .  Plate  LXXII  'shows  one  of  the  largest 

Harpalus  ,  ^  ...  _ 

and    commonest    species,    cahgtnosus.     It 

is    black    with    reddish-brown    antennas    and    tarsi.     H. 

pennsylvanicus    is     also    common     and    is,    superficially 

much  like  caliginosus  except  that  it  is  rarely  more  than 

.7  in.  long.     For  that  matter,  there  are  a  dozen  or  more 

species  of  Harpalus,  in  almost  any  region,  for  which  our 

figure  would  do  except  as  to  size.     It  might  also  pass  for 

related   genera    such   as    Selenophorus,    Stenolophus,   and 

Anisodactylus.     Unlike    their    relatives,    some    species   of 

Harpalus  are  said  to  feed,  when  adult,  largely  on  seeds. 

Harpalus     viridiceneus,     with     shining,     greenish-bronze 

back,  is  common  under  boards  in  farmyards. 

Agonoderus  pallipes  (Plate  LXXIII)  is  a  small  relative 
of  Harpalus  that  often  enters  houses  at  night,  attracted 
by  the  lights. 

The  next  three  families  are  aquatic  (see  also  Hydrophili- 
das),  although  the  adults  may  leave  the  water  to  seek 
mates  and  new  abiding  places.  The  compound  eyes  of 
the  Gyrinid^  (series  Polymorpha)  are  divided  so  that  they 
seem  to  have  four  such  eyes;  the  abdomen  has  seven 
segments;  the  middle  and  hind  legs  form  short  broad  pad- 
dles; the  antennae  are  short.  The  eyes  of  Haliplidae  and 
Dytiscid®  are  not  divided;  the  antennae  are  thread-like; 

288 


PREDACEOUS  DIVING  BEETLES. 


and  the  abdomen  has  six  segments.  HalipHd  antennae 
are  lo-jointed  and  none  of  the  legs  are  modified  for  swim- 
ming. Dytiscid  antennae  are  ii -jointed  and  the  hind 
legs  have  fringes  of  long  hairs,  acting  as  oars. 

Haliplid^e 

These  beetles  are  small,  oval,  brown  or  yellow,  more  or 
less  spotted  with  black,  and  have  very  much  rounded 
backs.  They  are  widest  near  the  front  of  the  elytra. 
They  crawl  about  aquatic  plants,  usually  in  shallow  water, 
but  do  not  swim  well.  The  larvae  are  slender  and  each  of 
the  body-segments  has  a  fleshy  lobe  on  the  back,  the  hind 
one  being  long  and  tapering.  Alatheson  states  that  they 
feed  on  filamentous  algas;  if  this  be  so,  they  are  an  excep- 
tion to  the  carnivorous  habits  of  the  Adephaga. 

DyTISCID/E 

See  above  for  the  characteristics  of  these  Predaceous 
Diving  Beetles.  Their  larvae  (Plate  LXXIV)  are  called 
Water-tigers.  The  adults  are  said  to  hibernate  in  under- 
water earth  but  they  come  out  from  time  to  time,  especially 
in  early  spring.  During  the  summer  they  are  frequently 
attracted  to  lights.  The  males  of  certain  genera,  e.  g. 
Dytiscus,  have  the  three  basal  segments  of  the  front 
(and,  to  a  lesser  extent,  of  the  middle)  tarsi  modified  to 
form  cup-like  suckers,  which  may  help  them  to  cling  to  the 
females  while  mating.  Some  females  have  furrowed 
elytra.  The  adults  have  large  spiracles  near  the  hind  end 
and  smaller  ones  along  the  side.  When  at  rest,  they 
hang  head-down  with  the  tips  of  the  elytra  sticking  out  of 
the  water.  In  this  way,  the  spiracles  have  access  to  the 
upper  air.  When  the  beetle  dives,  a  supply  of  air  is 
carried  along  under  the  elytra.  Adults  discharge,  from 
behind  the  head  and  also  from  anal  glands,  fluids  which 
differ  somewhat  from  species  to  species  but  all  of  which 
are  probably  defensive  against  fish  and  other  enemies. 
The  mature  beetles  live  for  a  long  time,  Harris  having  kept 
a  Dytiscus  "three  years  and  a  half  in  perfect  health,  in  a 
glass  vessel  filled  with  water,  and  supported  by  morsels 
of  raw  meat."     Eggs  of  Dytiscus,  as  far  as  known,  are 

289 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


laid  singly  in  slits  made  by  the  females  in  underwater 
plant  stems.  It  is  said  that  Acilius  lets  the  eggs  drop 
upon  the  mud  while  swimming  about  and  Colymbetes 
arranges  its  eggs  upon  leaves.  Miall  remarks  that  many 
a  raw  naturalist  has  put  these  beetles  into  his  collecting- 
bottle  or  aquarium,  to  find  after  a  few  hours  that  they 
have  destroyed  or  mutilated  almost  his  whole  live  stock. 
When  the  larva  swims  about  in  a  leisurely  way,  the  legs 
are  the  chief  means  of  propulsion,  but  it  can  also  make  a 
sudden  spring  by  throwing  its  body  into  serpentine  curves. 
It  may  also  be  seen  to  creep  on  submerged  leaves,  and  to 
cling  to  them  when  resting  or  lying  in  ambush.  The  tip 
of  the  tail  carries  two  small  appendages.  These,  as  well 
as  the  last  two  segments  of  the  abdomen,  are  fringed 
with  hairs,  which  no  doubt  increase  the  effect  of  a  stroke 
given  to  the  water.  But  these  appendages  are  chiefly 
used  to  buoy  up  the  tail,  when  the  larva  requires  to  breathe. 
At  length  the  larva  ceases  to  feed,  creeps  into  moist  earth 
near  the  edge  of  the  water,  makes  a  roundish  cell  there, 
and  changes  to  a  pupa. 

The  species  of  some  genera,  e.  g.  Bidessus,  are  less  than 
.12  in.  long.  The  following  are  among  the  largest  species. 
Colymbetes  sculptilis:  about  .7  in.  long;  top  of  head  black, 
with  two  small,  pale  spots;  pronotum,  front  of  the  head, 
and  margins  of  elytra,  dull  yellow;  a  black,  transverse, 
median  bar  on  pronotum;  elytra  dark.  The  general 
color  of  Dytiscus  is  greenish  black.  Dytiscus  fasciventris: 
length,  an  inch  or  slightly  more;  abdominal  segments 
reddish-brown  with  darker  margins;  pronotum  margined 
with  yellow  only  on  the  sides,  or  with  a  faint  trace  of  yellow 
at  base  and  apex;  each  elytron  of  female  with  ten  grooves, 
which  reach  beyond  the  middle.  D.  hybridus:  a  trifle 
more  than  an  inch  long;  abdominal  segments  uniform 
black;  pronotum  like  fasciventris  but  shorter;  yellow  margin 
of  elytra  of  nearly  equal  width  throughout,  a  narrow 
yellow  bar  near  apices;  elytra  of  female  smooth.  D. 
verticalis:  length  usually  at  least  1.4  in.;  abdominal  segment 
uniform  black;  pronotum  margined  with  yellow  only  on 
the  sides;  marginal  yellow  stripes  on  elytra  narrowing 
behind;  narrow,  oblique,  yellow  cross-bars,  near  apices, 
often  indistinct;  elytra  of  females  smooth.     D.  harrisii: 

290 


Plate  LXXIV 


Dytiscus 


Gyrinu5 


Hijdrophilus 


291 


FIELD  BOOK  OF   INSECTS. 


length  usually  at  least  1.5  in.;  all  edges  of  the  pronotum 
distinctly  margined  with  yellow;  elytra  marked  much  like 
verticalis  but  cross-bar  more  distinct;  females  usually  have 
the  elytra  grooved.  Cybister  fimbriolatus  is  about  1.3  in 
long;  brown  with  a  faint  greenish  tinge;  pronotum  and 
elytra  broadly  margined  with  yellow;  front  of  head,  two 
front  pairs  of  legs,  and  spots  at  sides  of  the  third  to  sixth, 
inclusive,  abdominal  segments  yellow;  pronotum  and 
elytra  of  female,  except  along  the  suture,  with  numerous, 
fine,  short  grooves. 

POLYMORPHA 

The  following  family  has  also  been  put  in  the  Adephaga. 

GvRINIDiE 

All  who  observe  have  seen  the  steel-blue  or  black 
Whirligig  Beetles  (Plate  LXXIV,  and  p.  288)  gyrating  in 
crowds  on  the  surface  of  relatively  still  water  or  basking 
like  turtles  on  logs  and  stones.  When  disturbed,  Whirligig 
Beetles  squeak  by  rubbing  the  tip  of  the  abdomen  against 
the  elytra.  They  also  give  off  a  fluid  which  is  sometimes 
ill-smelling  but  in  other  cases  rather  pleasantly  suggests 
apples.  Although  they  spend  most  of  their  active  time 
on  the  surface  of  the  water,  they  can  fly  well,  if  the}'  can 
climb  out  of  the  water  so  as  to  get  a  start,  and  they  dive 
freely,  carrying  down  a  bubble  of  air  at  the  tips  of,  and 
under,  their  elytra.  The  front  legs  are  long  and  grasping. 
Adults  are,  apparently,  not  very  predaceous,  but  the 
larv£e  seem  to  be.  The  female  lays  a  number  of  elongate, 
oval  eggs,  end  to  end,  upon  the  leaves  of  plants,  usually 
beneath  the  surface  of  the  water  and  sometimes  at  a 
considerable  depth.  The  general  appearance  of  the  larva 
is  that  of  a  small  Centipede.  The  pupa  of  Gyrinus  is  so 
well  hidden  that  few  have  ever  seen  it.  Probably  about 
the  beginning  of  August  the  lar\'a  creeps  out  of  the  water 
by  climbing  up  the  water-plants,  and  then  spins  a  grayish 
cocoon  pointed  at  both  ends,  the  adult  emerging  towards 
the  end  of  the  same  month.  Adults  hibernate,  coming 
out  during  mild  weather  for  mid-winter  dances. 

292 


**  WATER-SCAVENQER  "  BEETLES. 


The  two  principal  genera  are  Gyrinus  (length  less  than 
.35  in.;  the  triangular  piece,  scutellum,  between  the 
bases  of  the  closed  elytra  distinct)  and  Dineutes  (length 
.4  in.,  or  more;  scutellum  hidden).  Dineutes  vittatus: 
.5  in.  or  longer;  sides  of  pronotum  and  elytra  with  an  in- 
distinct, bronzed,  submarginal  stripe.  D.  discolor:  about 
.5  in.  long;  above  very  dark,  almost  black,  bronze,  shining; 
below,  yellowish.  D.  emarginatus:  less  than  .5  in.  long; 
above  and  below  black,  slightly  bronzed,  and  not  very 
shiny;  middle  and  hind  legs,  narrow  margin,  and  tip  of 
the  abdomen,  paler.  D.  assimilis:  length  a  trifle  under 
.5  in.;  above  black,  strongly  bronzed;  beneath  black, 
ver}''  shining;  abdominal  segments  often  tinged  with  brown; 
legs  brownish  yellow;  is  a  common  species  with  an  apple 
odor. 

The  CLAVICORN  series  starts  here  and  includes  the 
families  to,  but  not,  the  Elateridee.  Only  Hydrophilidag 
are  aquatic. 

Hydrophilid^ 

These  are  called  Water-Scavenger  Beetles.  The 
adults  do  feed  on  decaying  material  but  they  also  eat 
water-plants  and  living  animals,  and,  furthermore,  not  all 
are  aquatic;  the  larvae  are  largely  predaceous.  The 
adults  have  five  joints  in  each  tarsus,  but  the  first  joint  is 
often  very  small.  The  eggs  of  Hydrophilus  are  usually 
laid  in  a  floating  silken  case  with  a  handle-like  mast  (see 
Plate  LXXIV).  The  silk  comes  from  glands  at  the  hind 
end  of  the  female.  The  larvas  are  much  Hke  those  of 
Dytiscus  but  clumsier  and  their  tarsi  never  have  more  than  a 
single  claw,  while  those  of  the  Dytiscidas  and  the  Gyrinidae 
have  two.  Pupation  occurs  in  very  moist  earth  at  the 
water's  edge;  the  pupa  being  kept  from  touching  its  cell's 
bottom  by  projecting  hook-like  spines.  Unlike  Dytiscus ^ 
the  largest  spiracles  are  well  foru^ard  and  air  is  taken  in 
through  the  notch  between  the  head  and  the  thorax,  the 
velvety  hairs  keeping  out  the  water  and  the  hairy  club  of 
the  antennae  helping  to  break  the  surface  film.  These 
antennae,  which  are  less  than  11 -jointed  and  broadened 
at  the  tip,  are  sometimes  overlooked  by  the  inexperienced, 

293 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


who  mistake  the  long  palpi  for  antennae.  One  of  the 
main  groups  in  the  family,  the  Helophorini  {Helophorus 
and  Ilydrochus  are  the  principal  genera),  is  made  up  of 
small  species  which  usually  have  the  pronotum  narrowed 
behind,  so  that  it  is  not  as  wide  as  the  two  elytra.  The 
others  have  it  narrowed  in  front,  the  base  being  as  wide 
as  the  elytral  base.  Of  these,  the  Hydrophilini  and 
Hydrobiini  have  the  tarsal  joints  short.  The  metastemum 
of  an  insect  may  be  described  as  its  breast-bone;  it 
is  just  in  front  of  the  bases  of  the  hind  legs.  The  meta- 
stemum of  the  Hydrophilini  is  prolonged  into  a  distinct 
spine  and  that  of  the  Hydrobiini  is  not.  Finally,  the 
Sphagridiini  (late  authors  make  them  a  separate  family) 
have  the  first  joint  of  each  middle  and  hind  tarsus  elon- 
gated. Some  Sphaeridiini,  living  in  manure,  decaying 
sea-weed,  and  the  like,  have  a  wide  distribution. 

As   might   be   guessed   from   its   generic 

Sphseridium  name,  this  insect  belongs  to  the  Sphaeridiini ; 
scarabseoides         ,  .^  -111 

the   specific   name   was   suggested   by    the 

fact  that  it  resembles  the  Scarabaeidae  in  looks  and  habits. 

It  is  a  European  insect  which  was  introduced  in  the  latter 

part  of  the  last  century  and  is  rapidly  extending  its  range. 

It  lives  in  dung.     The  adult  is  about  a  .25  in.  long;  has  a 

very  convex  back;  shining  black  above  except  that  the 

elytra  have  a  reddish  spot  near  the  base  and  the    apical 

fourth  is  yellowish. 

This  genus  (Plate  LXXIV)  contains  the 
two  largest  species  (as  well  as  some  smaller 
ones)  of  the  family.  They  are  both  shiny  black.  H, 
ovatus  is  about  1.25  in.  long;  the  abdomen,  which  is 
unmarked,  is  pubescent  except  for  a  narrow,  smooth 
streak  down  the  middle  of  the  last  three  segments.  H. 
triangularis  is  larger,  even  reaching  1.5  in.;  the  under  side 
of  the  abdomen  is  pubescent  except  for  a  broad,  smooth 
streak  down  the  middle  of  all  but  the  first  segment;  the 
abdominal  segments  have  more  or  less  distinct,  triangular, 
yellow  spots  at  the  sides.  They  are  at  times  common 
under  electric  lights. 

Hydrocharis  is  a  related  genus;  ohtusatus  is  quite  convex 

294 


CARRION  BEETLES. 


in  cross-section,  regularly  oval  in  outline,  and  .6  in.  long. 
It  is  common  in  brackish  pools. 

SlLPHID^ 

Plate  LXXV  is  sufficient  help  for  the  identification  of 
Silpha  and  Necrophorus,  the  only  two  genera  of  this 
family  which  ordinarily  attract  notice  as  Carrion  Beetles, 
although  there  are  not  only  numerous  small  species  which 
feed  on  carrion  but  some  on  decaying  fungi  and  a  few  are 
found  only  in  ants*  nests.  There  are  six  ventral  abdominal 
segments;  the  front  coxae  are  conical,  prominent,  and, 
except  in  eyeless  species  found  in  caves,  nearly  or  quite 
touch  each  other. 

--         ,  Species  of  Necroplwrus  are  called  Burying 

Necrophorus        t-.       i  o  ^  -n    i      ■  i        r 

Beetles.     So  many  have  testified,  either  from 

hearsay  or  from  observation,  to  their  burying  small  car- 
casses and  feeding  on  them  under  ground,  that  it  must  be 
true.  Probably  I  have  been  unfortunate:  I  have  fur- 
nished them  with  numerous  carcasses  but  they  ate 
them  all  on  top  of  even  loose  sand.  Perhaps  the  right 
'  species  did  not  come  to  my  feast.  The  sensory  pits  in  the 
enlarged  portion  of  the  antennae  are  doubtless  olfactory 
and  explain  the  insects'  quickness  in  locating  their  particu- 
lar kind  of  food.  They  are  all  black,  usually  marked 
with  red  or  yellow.  The  following  three  species  of 
Necrophorus  have  their  hind  (and,  to  a  lesser  extent,  their 
middle)  legs  bowed.  N.  americanus:  an  inch  or  more  long; 
pronotum  rounded;  orange- red  on  vertex  of  the  head, 
central  part  of  pronotum,  two  irregular  spots  on  each  ely- 
tron, and  club  of  antennas.  It  usually  feeds  on  reptiles. 
N.  sayi:  less  than  an  inch  long;  pronotum  rounded;  orange- 
red  in  a  cross-bar  near  base  and  a  spot  near  apex  of  each 
elytron.  Not  usually  common.  N.  margifialus:  (Plate 
LXXV)  the  elytral  spots  are  sometimes  connected  along 
the  margin,  the  basal  spot  sometimes  divided.  One  of 
the  commonest.  The  following  three  have  straight  legs. 
iV.  orhicollis:  marked  much  like  sayi.  N.  pustulatus: 
pronotum  transversely  oval,  very  little  narrowed  behind; 
orange-red  on  antennal  club  and  two  spots,  the  apical 
one  sometimes  double,  on  each  elytron.     Wholly  black 

295 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


individuals  have  been  recorded.  N.  tomentosiis:  not 
over  .8  in.  long;  pronotum  broader  than  long,  very  little 
narrowed  behind;  the  disc  clothed  with  yellow  hairs;  elytral 
markings  resemble  those  of  marginatus  but  are  narrower. 

Silpha  These    beetles   are   extremely   flattened. 

S.  surinamensis:  .6  to  i  in.  long;  rather 
elongate;  eyes  prominent;  hind  femora  of  males  quite 
stout;  black,  usually  with  a  narrower  orange-red  cross-bar 
(often  broken  into  spots)  near  apex  of  each  elytron.  The 
following  are  oval  in  shape,  the  eyes  are  not  prominent,  and 
the  hind  femora  are  not  enlarged.  S.  incEqualis:  about 
•5  in.  long;  all  black.  S.  noveboracensis:  see  Plate  LXXV. 
S.  americana:  about  .75  in.  long;  pronotum  yellow  with  a 
black  central  spot;  elytra  brownish  with  the  crinkly  eleva- 
tions slightly  darker;  pronotum  nearly  twice  as  wide  as 
long;  much  narrowed  in  front.  It  occurs  on  toadstools 
and  in  dung,  as  well  as  on  carrion. 

The  ScYDMiENiDiE  are  usually  less  than  .12  in.  long; 
shining;  oval;  convex;  brownish  or  blackish;  and  usually 
having  erect  hairs  on  the  upper  surface.  They  occur 
beneath  bark  or  stones  in  moist  localities,  also  in  ant's 
nests.  They  differ  from  the  Silphidas  in  having  coarser 
eye-facets.  The  hind  coxae  do  not  touch.  Brathinus, 
which  is  found  in  the  North  about  mossy  springs,  has 
been  put  in  this  family  bi^t  its  coxae  nearly  t:)uch  and  a 
separate  family,  Brathinid.e,  is  justified. 

The  PsELAPHiDiE  are  also  very  small.  They  agree  with 
the  Staphylinidae  in  having  short  elytra,  but  the  abdomen 
is  relatively  shorter  and  not  flexible.  The  head  and 
thorax  are  usually  narrower  than  the  combined  elytra. 
Some  species  "excrete  from  small  tufts  of  hairs  a  sub- 
stance of  which  ants  are  very  fond,  and  they  are  therefore 
tolerated  in  numbers  in  the  nests  of  these  insects.  They 
are  even  said  to  be  fed  by  the  ants  and  to  ride  about  on 
the  backs  of  their  hosts  when  so  inclined."  In  general, 
they  are  found  with  Scydmsenidae,  and  both  families  are 
best  obtained  by  sifting. 

296 


Plate  LXXV 


Silpha  noveboracensis 


Wecrophorus 
morqinatus 


Creophilus 
villosus 


SUphqiinid  \arvQ 

TQchinus 
{imbriQius 


1     n^v 

Coccinel  lo.     9-  notalo 

MeqillQ 

"ubcllabri5 

Adalia    ^         ,  ,   ^ 

bipunciQiQ  HippodamiQ 

converijen: 


A     V-     .r  ^4  EpilQinne ,. 

AnQiiS   15-punciQiQ  boreaiib 


ROVE  BEETLES. 


Staphylinid^ 


The  Rove  Beetles  may  be  known  by  their  long,  narrow 
form  and  elytra,  which  rarely  half  cover  the  abdomen. 
The  number  of  tarsal  joints  varies  from  3  to  5  and  is  not 
always  the  same  in  the  different  feet  of  the  sa.me  insect; 
the  abdomen  has  10  dorsal  segments,  fewer  below.  Sharp 
says  that  "it  is  probable  that  one  hundred  thousand 
species  or  even  more  of  Staphylinidas  are  at  present  in 
existence."  About  2,000  have  already  been  described 
from  the  United  States  and  the  number  is  rapidly  increas- 
ing. Probably  fully  200  species  can  be  found  in  almost 
any  region  but  their  identification  is  rather  technical  and 
no  differentiation  will  be  attempted  here.  "They  live 
on  decaying  animal  or  vegetable  matter,  in  excrement,  fun- 
gi, or  fermenting  sap,  and  are  among  the  most  universally 
distributed  of  all  beetles.  Many  of  them  are  predatory, 
and  some  have  been  accused  of  feeding  on  living  plants;  but 
on  the  whole  they  are  of  importance  to  the  agriculturist 
only  as  scavengers,  and  as  they  aid  in  reducing  the  dead 
animal  and  vegetable  matter  into  shape  for  assimilation 
by  plants"  (Smith).  Creopliilus  villosus  (Plate  LXXV) 
is  common  about  carrion  and  excrement.  When  adults 
are  disturbed,  they  raise  their  tails  as  though  they  would 
sting,  but  all  the  species  are  perfectly  harmless.  Tachinus 
fimbriatus  (Plate  LXXV)  is  often  found  in  mushrooms. 

We  now  skip  a  number  of  families  of  very  small  beetles; 
TRiCHOPTERYGiDiE,  in  decaying  vegetable  matter;  Scaphi- 
DiiD^,  generally  shining  black,  sometimes  marked  with 
red  or  yellow  spots,  living  in  rotten  wood,  fungi,  and  the 
like;  Phalacrid^,  shiny  black,  very  convex,  living  on 
flowers  or  under  bark;  and  Corylophid.e,  black  or  brown, 
marked  with  yellow,  in  fermenting  sap,  fruits,  and  other 
vegetable  matter,  on  dead  branches,  and  under  bark. 

COCCINELLID.^ 

I  suppose  it  is  a  relief  to  the  reader  also  when  we  reach, 
as  now,  a  family  whose  habits  we  like.  Many  of  us  have 
quoted 

297 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Lady-bird,  lady-bird!     Fly  away  home. 
Your  house  is  on  fire. 
Your  children  do  roam. 

Some  of  us  add 

Except  little  Nan,  who  sits  in  a  pan 
Weaving  gold  laces 
As  fast  as  she  can. 

And  a  few  of  us  know  what  it  is  all  at)out.  Many  Lady- 
bird (CoccinelHd)  larvae  live  on  aphids  and  this  rhyme 
started  in  the  Old  Country,  where  they  bum  the  hop- 
vines  after  the  harvest.  These  vines  are  usually  full  of 
aphids  and  CoccinelHd  children.  A  Nan  who  can  not 
roam  but  sits  in  a  pan  weaving  gold  laces  is  shown  on 
Plate  LXX V.  She  is  the  yellow  pupa.  ' '  Why '  Lady-bird ' 
or  'Lady-beetle'?"  That  goes  back  still  further:  to  the 
Middle  Ages  when  these  insects  were  dedicated  to  the 
Virgin  and  were  the  "  Beetles  of  Our  Lady."  There  are  a 
lot  of  superstitions  about  them. 

The  most  distinctive  characters  of  the  family  are  the 
(apparently)  3-jointed  tarsi  and  the  broad,  hatchet-shaped 
terminal   joint  of   the   maxillary   palpi.     They  have  the 
antennae  11 -jointed,  terminating  in  a  more  or  less  distinct 
3-jointed   club;    head   deeply   immersed   in   the   thorax, 
which  is  transverse,  rather  small,  and  strongly  emarginate 
in  front;  elytra  convex,  not  truncate  at  tip.     Plate  LXXV 
shows  a  number  of  common  species,  some  of  which  are 
rather  variable  with  respect  to  color  and  markings.     Smith 
says  that  "in  a  very  general  way,  and  subject  to  many 
exceptions,"  those  which  are  red  or  yellow,  with  black 
spots,  feed  on  plant-lice   (aphids),  and  those  which  are 
wholly  black,  or  black  with  red  or  yellow  spots,  feed  on 
scale-insects.     The  larvae  are  often  prettily  marked  with 
black,  blue,  or  orange,  and  are  even  more  greedy  feeders 
on  pests  than  are  the  adults.     Some  species  have  the 
curious  habit  of  congregating,  as  adults,  in  great  masses 
on  mountain   tops  to  spend   the  winter.     Horticulturists 
of  California  collect  these  masses  "by  the  ton,"  put  them 
in  cold  storage  until  wanted,  and  distribute  them  among 
the  farmers  at  the  proper  season  for  controlHng  aphids. 

2q8 


PLANT=EATING  LADY-BEETLES. 


Epilachna  should  be  disowned  by  its  family  but  it  can 
not  be.  Except  for  Epilachna  borealis,  all  of  our  species 
are  distinctly  beneficial  because  of  their  food  habits, 
although  the  ignorant  often  accuse  them  of  being  the 
authors  of  the  damage  done  by  the  Aphids  and  Coccids 
upon  which  they  are  feeding.  Some  Coccinellidae  take  a 
bit  of  pollen  by  way  of  a  change,  but  borealis,  larva  and 
adult,  eats  nothing  but  the  leaves  of  pumpkin,  squash,  and 
allied  plants.  The  larva  is  yellow  and  armed  with  six 
rows  of  forked,  black  spines.  The  adults  hibernate.  In 
the  West  the  ]Mexican  E.  varivestis  eats  the  leaves  and 
green  pods  of  beans. 

Here  we  skip  a  number  of  families  which  are  not  well 
represented  in  the  United  States.  The  Endomychid^ 
are  something  like  Coccinellidse  but  the  tarsal  claws  are 
simple  instead  of  being  dilated  or  toothed  at  the  base. 
They  live  in  fungi.  The  Erotylid^  also  live  in  fungi; 
"elongate  or  oval  in  form,  and  of  medium  or  small  size. 
Many  of  them  are  very  prettily  bicolored,  possessing  a  red 
thorax,  with  black  or  black  and  red  elytra,  or  the  reverse. 
A  number,  however,  are  of  one  hue."  The  tarsi  are  5- 
jointed,  the  fourth  joint  being  small;  antennae  distinctly'- 
clubbed.  The  Colydiid^  are  slender,  rather  cylindrical, 
usually  brown,  often  with  ridged  wing-covers.  They  live 
under  bark,  in  fungi,  or  in  the  ground.  Some,  at  least, 
are  predaceous.  Up  to  several  years  ago  only  four  North 
American  species  of  Rhyssodid^  had  been  described. 
They  live  under  bark ;  and  are  narrow,  elongate,  somewhat 
flattened,  brown  beetles;  head  and  thorax  deeply  grooved 
("v/rinkled");  head  constricted  to  form  a  pronounced 
neck;  scutellum  wanting;  first  three  ventral  segments  of  the 
abdomen  solidly  united  to  each  other. 

CUCUJID^ 

Most  of  these  also  live  under  bark  and  the  last  sentence 
would  fit  them  fairly  well  except  for  the  last  three  clauses. 
The  Cucujid  head  does  not  taper  behind  to  form  a  neck; 
the  scutellum  is  distinct;  and  the  abdomen  has  five  free 
ventral  segments.  Cucujiis  clavipes  is  all-red  in  color, 
.5  in.  long,  and  flat  as  a  piece  of  cardboard.    Some  Cucujid 

299 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS 


larvae  are  predaceous  but  the  following,  among  others, 
unfortunately  is  not. 

Silvanus  The  enlarged  figures  on  Plate  LXXVI 

surinamensis  are  sufficiently  descriptive  except  as  to 
color ;  the  adult  is  chestnut-brown  and  the  larvae  are  dirty 
white  with  darker  areas.  It  is  one  of  the  most  abundant 
beetles  in  all  kinds  of  stored  grains,  especially  in  the 
South,  and  it  is  sometimes  destructive  to  dried  fruits. 
It  is  not  a  weevil,  but  two  of  its  nicknames  are  Grain- 
weevil  and  Saw-toothed  Weevil,  the  latter  referring  to  its 
thorax.  "The  larva,  when  living  in  granular  material, 
like  meal,  usually  builds  a  thin  case  out  of  the  particles 
and  the  whitish  pupa  may  be  found  within.  When  the 
insect  is  living  in  substances  like  fine  flour  it  does  not 
build  a  case  "  (Herrick).  It  is  cosmopoUtan  in  its  distribu- 
tion. Several  other  Cucujids  also  feed  on  stored  grain, 
fruits,  and  nuts,  e.  g.  Cathartiis  advena,  which  is  particu- 
larly fond  of  such  as  are  stale.  It  is  about  the  same  size 
and  color  as  surinamensis  but  the  pronotum  is  straight- 
edged  and  nearly  square. 

Sharp  states  that  the  "  Colydiidae,  Cucujidae,  and  Rhysso- 
didae,  exhibit  relations  not  only  with  other  families  of 
Coleoptera  Polymorpha,  but  also  with  most  of  the  great 
series;  Adephaga,  Rhyncophora,  Phytophaga,  and  Hetero- 
mera,  being  each  closely  approached." 

The  Cryptophagid^  are  usually  less  than  .i  in.  long 
and  "often  of  a  light  yellowish-brown  color,  with  a  silken 
lustre  produced  by  a  very  fine  pubescence.  Their  habits 
are  exceedingl}'  variable,  some  living  in  fungi,  others 
about  wood  and  chip  piles  or  in  cellars,  beneath  dead  leaves, 
in  rotten  logs,  or  on  flowers."  The  last  three  of  the  eleven 
antennal  joints  are  enlarged,  loosel}^  forming  a  club. 
Some  of  the  males  have  only  4  joints,  instead  of  5,  in  each 
hind  tarsus;  the  front  and  middle  coxae  are  very  small 
and  deeply  imbedded. 

To  the  Mycetophagid^  "belong  a  limited  number  of 
small  oval,  slightly  convex  beetles  which  live  on  fungi  and 
beneath  bark.     They  have  the  upper  surface  hairy  and 

300 


Plate  LXXVI 


Silvanus   surinamensis 


Dermestes  lardarius 


Attogenus  piceu5 


Anlhrenus 
scrophularioe, 


iOI 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS, 


densely  punctured  and  the  elytra  are  brown  or  blackish, 
usually  prettily  marked  with  yellow  spots  or  bands,  or 
yellow  with  black  spots."  The  tarsi  are  thread-like  and 
4-jointed,  except  that  the  front  ones  of  the  males  are  3- 
jointed,  more  or  less  dilated  and  pubescent  beneath. 

Dermestid^ 

The  name  means  "skin-devouring"  and  the  species 
mentioned  in  detail  below  are  fairly  typical  of  the  family. 
The  hind  coxse  are  dilated  into  plates,  which  are  grooved 
for  the  reception  of  the  femora;  the  under  side  of  the 
thorax  is  hollowed  to  receive  the  usually  short,  clubbed 
antennae;  tarsi  s-jointed. 

D.  lardarius  is  the  common  Larder-  or 
Dermestes  Bacon-beetle.      The     Hght     areas      (Plate 

LXXVI)  are  pale  yellowish.  The  larva  is  brown,  some- 
what hairy,  and  has  two  curved  spines  on  the  top  of  the 
last  segment.  It  feeds  on  animal  substances  such  as 
smoked  meats,  cheese,  hoofs,  horn,  skin,  feather,  and  hair. 
There  may  be  four  or  five  generations  a  season.  The 
adult  of  D.  vulpinus,  the  Leather-beetle,  is  like  that  of 
lardarius  except  that  the  eljrtra  have  no  light  areas,  being 
sparsely  and  uniformly  clothed  with  a  mixture  of  black 
and  grayish-yellow  hairs;  the  last  abdominal  segment  has 
two  white  spots  below.  Its  food  habits  are  much  Uke  those 
of  lardarius  but  it  prefers  skins.  Herrick  says  that  certain 
London  merchants  offered  a  prize  of  £20,000  for  a  "practi- 
cal and  effectual  remedy"  but  he  does  not  say  whether  it 
was  awarded  or  not.  There  are  other  species  outdoors 
that  seldom  do  indoor  damage. 

This    is    the    Black    Carpet-beetle.     In 
Attagenus  ^j^g  males  the  last  antennal  joint  is  about  as 

piceus  j^^g  ^g  ^p^  ^^^  remainder  of  the  antenna. 

The  larva  (Plate  LXXVI)  is  reddish-brown.  Like  most  of 
the  Dermestids  the  adult  does  but  little  damage  to  our 
goods;  it  much  prefers  pollen  as  food.  The  larva  goes  in 
for  almost  anything  of  animal  origin,  especially  woolens, 
feathers,  and  the  dried  specimens  of  entomological  collec- 
tions. 

302 


BUFFALO=BUQS. 


These  are  the  Buffalo-moths  or  -bugs  and 
some  are  the  worst  enemies  of  entomological 
collections.  A.  muscBorum  has  only  8  joints  in  each  an- 
tenna, including  the  two-jointed  club,  and  the  outline  of 
the  eyes  is  not  indented.  It  is  found  on  flowers  but  is 
not  a  frequent  visitor  in  houses.  The  following  species 
have  II  joints  in  each  antenna,  including  a  three-jointed 
club,  and,  except  for  verbasci,  the  outhne  of  eyes  is  in- 
dented. The  pronotum  of  A.  verbasci  is  black,  the  central 
part  sparsely  clothed  with  yellow  scales,  the  sides  more 
densely  with  white  ones;  elytra  black,  with  a  large  basal 
ring  and  two  transverse,  zigzag  bands  of  white  scales 
bordered  by  yellow  ones;  under  surface  of  abdomen  clothed 
with  fine,  long,  grayish-yellow  scales.  It  is  the  common 
museum  pest.  A.  scrophularice  is  the  Buffalo  Moth. 
The  elytra  have  brick-red,  or  dull  yellow,  markings  as 
shown  in  Plate  LXXVI.  I  do  not  know  why  this  genus  is 
connected,  by  name,  with  the  buffalo,  unless  the  larva 
has  a  fancied  resemblance  to  that  animal.  Possibly  it 
got  its  nickname  by  being  destructive  of  buffalo-robes  in 
the  days  when  there  were  such  things.  The  species 
frequently  injure  carpets,  but  are  also  found  on  flowers. 
They  breed  in  organic  matter,  presumably  in  outbuildings 
or  outdoors  as  well  as  within,  fly  to  the  flowers  and  may 
then,  in  the  case  of  the  Carpet-beetle  at  least,  be  carried 
into  dwellings  before  eggs  are  deposited.  Infested  carpets 
should  be  taken  up,  thoroughly  cleaned,  and,  if  badly 
infested,  sprayed  with  benzine.  Local  injury  can  fre- 
quently be  stopped  by  passing  a  hot  iron  over  a  damp 
cloth  laid  on  the  affected  part  of  the  carpet. 

The  habits  of  this  creature  are  not  those 

Byturus  ^^  Other  Dermestidae  but,  in  view  of  the 

unicolor 

fact  that  adults  of  most  of  the  other  species 

mentioned  here  regularly  leave  hides  and  hair  for  a  sojourn 
among  flowers,  it  may  be  retaining  the  ancestral  activities. 
The  adult  is  about  .14  in.  long,  reddish-yellow  or  reddish- 
brown,  and  covered  with  a  thick  coat  of  pale,  tawny  hairs. 
It  appears  about  the  middle  of  May  and  feeds  on  the 
flower-buds  and  tender  foliage  of  red  raspberries.  The 
larva  is  plump,  white,  with  tawny  cross-bands  and  numer- 

303 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


ous  short  white  hairs.  It  feeds  in  the  cup  of  the  berries. 
Pupation  and  hibernation  occur  in  an  earthen  cell  just 
beneath  the  surface  of  the  ground. 

HiSTERIDiE 

It  has  been  suggested  that  Linnasus,  in  naming  the  type 
genus  of  this  family  Hister,  had  in  mind  a  filthy  Mr.  Hister 
of  Juvenal's  Satires.  I  have  not  looked  up  the  original 
but,  if  the  Roman  was  very  bad,  the  name  is  not  appropri- 
ate for  all  the  Histeridae,  as  some  of  them  Hve  in  a  fairly 
cleanly  manner  under  bark  and  in  ants'  nests.  Even 
those  which  take  to  carrion  and  excrement  probably  do 
not  eat  it  but  feed  on  the  other  more  Hister-like  insects. 
They  are  "small,  usually  black,  shining  beetles  having 
the  elytra  truncate  behind,  leaving  two  segments  of  the 
abdomen  uncovered.  In  form  they  are  variable,  either 
oblong  and  flat  or,  more  usually,  rotmd,  oval,  globose,  or 
cylindrical.  All  are  very  compact,  have  a  very  hard 
surface,  and  the  elytra  are  usually  marked  with  a,  nimiber 
of  strise."  The  antennae  are  elbowed  and  have  a  short 
compact  club. 

NiTIDULIDiE 

Some  adults  are  much  like  the  Histeridae  in  form  but 
the  antennae  are  straight;  others  suggest  Staphylinidas; 
and,  all  in  all,  it  is  difficult  to  tell  them  "at  a  glance."  In 
most  species  the  pronotum  has  wide,  thin  sides.  Some 
feed  on  fungi  or  carrion,  others  are  found  chiefly  in  flowers, 
but  the  majority  feed  on  the  sap  of  trees  and  juices  of 
fruits.  Dury  tells  of  trapping  hundreds  of  specimens  by 
laying  chips  on  top  of  a  freshly  cut  maple  stump.  They 
are  also  attracted  to  a  mixture  of  vinegar  and  molasses. 
Some  of  the  species  are  prettily  marked  with  yellow  or 
red.  The  genus  Ips  is  often  common  under  fallen,  decay- 
ing fruit  as  well  as  about  flowing  sap.  I.  ohtusus  is  .3  in., 
or  more,  in  length  and  /.  quadrigtittatus  is  less  than  .3  in. 
long;  both  are  black  with  two  reddish-yellow  {ohtusus) 
or  27ellow  (quadriguttatus)  spots  on  each  elytron.  /. 
satiguinolentus  is  less  than  .25  in.  long;  head  and  thorax 

304 


THE  CADELLE. 


black;  abdomen  and  elytra  red,  except  for  tip  and  two 
black  spots  on  each  elytron.  Carpophilus  hemipterus 
is  an  introduced  species  which  is  found  in  grocery  and 
bakery  shops.  It  is  about  .17  in.  long;  black,  except  for 
the  pale  legs,  a  dull  yellow  shoulder-spot  and  an  irregular 
area  of  the  same  color  covering  the  distal  half  of  each 
elytron.  Omosita  colon  is  often  seen  on  greasy  bones  in 
the  back  yard. 

The  Lathridiid^  are  rarely  more  than  .1  in.  long. 
They  are  usually  reddish-yellow  or  brownish.  Most  of 
the  species  occur  under  bark  and  stones,  or  in  decaying 
leaves;  some  are  found  on  plants  and  some,  e.  g.  Corticaria 
ferruginea,  in  dried  products  such  as  drugs. 

Temnochilid/E 

There  are  not  many  species  and  most  of  them  live 
under  bark. 

_      ....  Two  species,   mauretanica   (the  Cadelle) 

Tenebnoides  .  .     ,.  .  ,      . 

and     corttcalis,     are     found     m     granaries 

throughout  the  world.  The  eighth  antennal  joint  of 
mauretanica  is  equal  to  the  ninth;  in  our  other  species  it  is 
smaller.  Plate  LXXVII  is  sufficient  additional  descrip- 
tion of  the  blackish  adult  Cadelle.  The  dark  areas  shown 
in  the  illustration  of  the  larva  are  reddish  brown.  It 
feeds  on  wheat,  flour,  and  other  foodstuffs.  The  fact  that 
it  has  been  found  in  milk  has  been  used  to  help  prove 
that  milkmen  enrich  their  goods  with  cornstarch.  This 
larva  seems  to  be  rather  hardy  as  Webster  recorded  its 
feeding  on  hellebore.  It  is  said  also  to  feed  on  other 
insects  and  it  has  been  known  to  bore  into  the  wood  of 
grain  bins. 

The  Parnid^  are  small  (less  than  .25  in.)  beetles  which 
cling  with  their  long  tarsal  claws  to  sticks  and  stones  in 
water,  often  even  in  swift  streams.  The  flat,  circular 
larv£e  occur  in  the  same  places,  clinging  tightly  to  their 
support.     Neither  stage  swims. 

It  may  be  of  some  use  to  name  the  families  we  now 
skip.     It  would  be  of  little  use  to  describe  them,  as  the 

20  305 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


small  and  not  numerous  species  are  rarely  noticed.     They 
are  the  Monotomid^e,  Derodontid^,  BvRRHiDiE,  Geo- 

RYSSIDiE,  and  HEXEROCERIDiE. 

The  remainder  of  the  Polymorpha  are  known  as  SERRI- 
CORNIA.  "This  series  is  primarily  distinguished,  as 
its  name  indicates,  by  the  serrate  or  saw-tooth  character 
of  the  antennas.  The  serrate  antenna  is,  like  the  filiform, 
usually  slender  and  of  nearly  the  same  width  throughout, 
but  differs  in  having  each  joint  project  more  or  less  in- 
wards, this  projection  being  sometimes  so  long  as  to  form 
what  is  called  the  pectinate,  or  comb-toothed  antenna" 
(Blatchley) .  However,  Nature  is  not  clear-cut  in  any  of  her 
divisions.  Apparently  she  does  not  use  a  card  catalog. 
"System"  is  a  human  invention.  Passing  by  theDASCYL- 
LiD^  and  Rhipicerid^  we  come  to  a  large  family  some 
members  of  which  most  people  have  noticed. 

Elaterid^ 

With  the  exception  of  the  subfamily  Eucneminae,  which 
is  considered  by  some  authorities  to  be  a  separate  family, 
these  beetles  have  a  unique  method  of  getting  on  their 
feet  if,  by  chance,  they  are  on  their  back.  They  spring 
into  the  air  and  turn  over  as  they  go.  This  trick  has  won 
them  various  names  such  as  Skip  Jacks,  Click  Beetles, 
Spring  Beetles,  and  Snapping  Bugs.  Once,  in  Arizona, 
I  had  a  guide  who  had  never  noticed  them  before.  I 
made  some  of  the  species,  which  came  to  the  camp  light, 
perform.  He  immediately  christened  them  Break-backs 
and  began  to  count  up  how  much  he  would  win,  after  he 
got  back  to  Tucson,  by  betting  on  "whether  they  would 
or  wouldn't  land  right  side  up."  I  advised  him  to  put 
his  money  on  "would"  and  for  nights,  thereafter,  he 
hung  around  my  moth-tent,  turning  Elaterids  on  their 
backs  to  see  whether  they  would  or  wouldn't.  I  do  not 
know  how  he  made  out. 

Break-backs  is  really  not  a  bad  name,  as  their  pronotum 
is  very  loosely  joined  to  the  rest  of  the  body.  Its  hind 
angles  are  prolonged  backward  but  the  elytra  slope  so 
that  the  back  can  be  bowed.  This  is  done  when  the 
beetle  finds  itself  wrong  side  up  and  then  the  body  is 

306 


Plate  LXXVII 


Tenebrioides  mauretanlca 


Corymbites 
hieroglyphicus 


ElQlBf 

niqricolli5  .,\  "^,    ' 
^  Melonotus  ^ 

communis 


Phoning 

The  chck'oppQrQTuA 


Alaus    oculatus 

307 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


suddenly  a  little  more  than  straightened,  causing  the  beetle 
to  bounce  into  the  air.  The  body  is  kept  from  bending 
too  far  ventrally  by  a  spine  on  the  hind  edge  of  the  pro- 
sternum.  The  antennae  fit,  when  at  rest,  in  grooves  in  the 
prostemum.  Most  of  the  species  are  brown  or  black  and 
of  medium  or  small  size.  The  larv^  are  commonly  called 
Wire-worms.  They  are  long,  narrow,  cylindrical,  hard- 
shelled,  brownish  or  yellowish-white  creatures.  Some 
live  in  the  ground,  feeding  on  the  roots  of  grasses  and 
other  plants;  some,  especially  the  larvas  of  the  snapless 
Eucnemin^,  live  in  dead  wood  and  under  bark;  and  some, 
at  least,  are  predaceous. 

Two  species  occur  in  the  Northeast  (and 
Aldus 

elsewhere)    but   oculatus    (Plate   LXXVII) 

is  the  more  common.  The  black-and-white  adult  flies 
throughout  the  seasorx.  The  larva,  which  lives  in  decayed 
trunks  of  apple  and  other  trees,  reaches  a  length  of  nearly 
2.5  inches.  Lugger  concluded  that  this  larva  "largel}^ 
subsists  upon  other  insects"  as  all  that  he  kept  in  deca^-ing 
wood  soon  died  if  they  were  not  provided  with  living  in- 
sects, "which  were  soon  discovered  by  these  cannibals  and 
devoured."  If  this  be  so,  it  is  curious  that  myops  is  found 
only  in  pine,  for  we  would  expect  that  it  would  be  predace- 
ous also  and  so  not  particular  as  to  woods.  The  adult 
myops  averages  somewhat  smaller  than  oculatus  and  the 
eye-like  spots  are  not  only  narrower  and  smaller  but  their 
gray  margins  are  indistinct. 

In  the  South,  there  are  Elaterids  which  have  a  pair  of 
very  luminous  spots  on  the  pronotimi.  Several  years  ago 
some  enterprising  individual  secured  a  large  number  of  the 
Cuban  Pyroplioriis  noctilucus  and  sold  living  specimens 
at  Coney  Island.  They  were  probably  purchased  as 
curiosities  but,  in  the  tropics,  ladies  wear  them  as  orna- 
ments. 

The  following  United  States  species  occur  at  least  in  the 
Northeast  and  have  relatively  conspicuous  characters 
which  help  in  their  identification,  but  which  should  not 
be  considered  conclusive. 

308 


ELATERID>E. 

Adelocera  discoidea  is  from  .3  to  .5  in.  long;  black  except 
for  the  yellow  head  and  margins  of  the  pronotum.  Hiber- 
nates under  bark. 

Elater  nigricollis  (Plate  LXXVII):  head  and  thorax 
black;  elytra  all  dull  yellowish;  occurs  under  bark  and  in 
rotten  wood,  usually  in  damp  woods.  See  Corymhites. 
E.  linteus,  similar,  but  usually  smaller,  and  the  elytra  are 
black  along  the  suture  and  at  the  apex.  Under  bark, 
usually  in  dry  situations.  In  E.  discoideus  the  black  covers 
all  the  elytra  except  for  the  yellow  outer  margins.  Under 
the  bark  of  hickor}',  beech,  and  other  trees.  E.  rubricollis 
is  .5  to  .7  in.  long;  pronotum,  except  the  apex  and  hind 
angles,  red;  otherwise  black.  Under  bark  and  on  flowers, 
E.  coUaris  is  similar  but  is  about  .3  in.  long  and  has  no 
black  on  pronotum.  E.  sangiiinipennis  is  about  .3  in. 
long;  pronotum  black,  elytra  all  red.  E.  xanthomns  is 
about  the  same  size  but  only  the  bases  of  the  elytra  are 
red;  otherwise  black. 

Pityohius  anguinus  is  an  inch  or  so  long  but  narrow; 
black;  antennae  feathered  in  male.     Usually  on  pine. 

Corymhites  pyrrhos  is  about  .75  in.  long;  dark  reddish- 
brown;  narrow;  pronotum  relatively  long  and  narrow. 
C.  tarsalis  is  about  the  size  and  color  of  Elater  nigricollis. 
They  belong  to  different  groups  of  genera,  the  Elaterini 
having  the  hind  coxal  plates  suddenly  dilated  about  the 
middle,  the  outer  part  much  narrower  than  the  inner, 
and  the  Corymbitini  having  them  gradually,  sometimes 
scarcely,  dilated  on  the  inner  side.  It  is  such  technical 
differences  which  make  unteclinical  catch-characters  little 
more  than  hints.  C.  hieroglyphicus  (Plate  LXXVII) 
is  found  northward,  especially  on  pine. 

Melanactes  piceus  is  i  to  1.4  in.  long  and  polished  black. 
It  occurs  under  stones  and  rubbish  in  dry  situations. 

Melanotus  communis  (Plate  LXXVII)  is  found  under 
the  loose  bark  of  fallen  trees  and  is  widely  distributed. 
With  a  strong  lens  its  claws  are  seen  to  be  comb-like. 

The  family  Throscid^  "contains  only  a  few  small, 
oblong,  black  or  brownish  beetles  which  resemble  the 
Elaterids  and  the  next  family,  the  Buprestids,  in  form  and 
in  having  the  prostemimi  prolonged  behind  into  a  spine 

309 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


which  fits  into  a  cavity  in  the  mesostemnm.  They  differ 
from  the  Elateridas  in  having  the  pro-  and  meso-sterna 
firmly  joined,  and  so  without  the  power  of  leaping  possessed 
by  most  click  beetles.  From  the  Buprestidas  they  are 
distinguished  by  having  the  ventral  abdominal  segments 
all  free"  (Blatchley).  They  are  usually  found  on  dead 
wood  or  on  flowers,  and  are  inconspicuous  as  well  as 
small. 

BuPRESTIDiE 

These  are  usually  elongate,  usually  stout  (but  some- 
times cylindrical)  beetles,  with  broad  thorax,  and  elytra 
tapering  back  from  the  shoulders;  the  prothorax  closely 
united  to  the  mesothorax.  A  large  proportion  of  them 
are  bronzed  or  metallic  in  color  or  reflection,  and  others 
are  gaudily  marked  with  red  or  yellow  bands  or  spots. 
Alany  of  them  have  the  upper  surface  deeply  grooved  or 
pitted,  and,  altogether,  they  are  very  characteristic  in 
appearance.  Most  of  them  are  very  active  and  fly  readily. 
Square-heads  is  a  local  name  for  them,  coined  in  recog- 
nition of  their  broad,  fiat,  square-cut  front. 

The  larvae  are  wood-borers,  usually  living  under  bark 
and  making  broad,  rather  shallow  furrows,  galleries,  or 
chambers.  In  shape  they  are  very  much  elongated,  some- 
what fiattened,  the  body  segments  well  defined,  head  small, 
the  anterior  segments  much  enlarged  so  as,  apparently,  to 
form  part  of  the  head,  giving  rise  to  the  common  names 
Hammer-head  or  Flat-head  borers.  Adults  are  fond  of 
basking  in  the  sunshine,  usually  on  their  own  food-plant, 
and  may  best  be  collected  by  holding  an  umbrella  under 
branches  and  then  jarring  them.  Since  a  taxonomic 
key  involves  numerous  technicalities,  the  species  to  be 
mentioned  will  be  grouped  by  their  principal  food-plants. 

Orchard  Trees 

This    (Plate    LXXVIII)    is    called    the 

Ci^obothris  Flat-headed  Apple-tree  Borer,  the  name 
femorata 

referring    to    the    larva,    which,    however, 

attacks  numerous  other  trees  such  as  pear,  plum,  cherry, 
peach,   oak,  sycamore,   chestnut,  hickory,  maple,  horse- 

310 


Plate  LXXVIII 


Chrijsobothris 
{emoratQ 


QjcercQ 
divQrloQtQ 


Pho'turis  W.     Photmys 
pennsylvQnicQ     3CinTillQns 


Calopteron 
reticulatum 


ChouliognQthus 
pennsijlvQnicus 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


chesnut,  mountain  ash,  linden,  boxelder,  and  beech. 
Adults  appear  about  May,  or  later,  and  are  given  to  sitting 
on  tree  trunks  where  they  are  somewhat  difficult  to  see  on 
account  of  their  dull  metallic  brown  color  and  roughened 
elytra.  When  flying,  the  bright  metallic  greenish-blue 
abdomen  is  quite  conspicuous.  The  young  larvae  make 
shallow  galleries  in  the  sapwood,  but  as  they  get  older 
they  form  somewhat  dilated,  irregular,  flattened  burrows 
in  the  heartwood,  where  they  hibernate.  In  the  spring 
they  excavate  a  pupal-cell  near  the  surface,  completing  the 
life-history  in  one  year. 

The  larva  of  this  species  bores  in  peach, 
Dicerca  cherry,  beech,  maple,  and  other  deciduous 

divaricata  ^^^^^^     ^^^     ^^^^^     ^p^^^^     LXXVIII)     is 

coppery  or  brassy  above;  the  size  and  the  spreading  tips 
of  the  elytra,  whence  the  specific  name,  help  to  identify  it. 
The  males  have  a  little  tooth  on  the  under  side  of  each 
middle  femur. 

Small  Fruits 

The  Red-necked  Cane-borer   causes  the 
fi    ir  swellings,     usually     with    numerous    slits, 

which  have  been  called  "gouty  galls,"  on 
raspberry  and  blackberr3^  Adults  emerge  in  May  and 
June;  they  are  not  over  .3  in.  long;  head  short  but  wide, 
black;  pronotum  coppery-red;  elytra  bronzy-black.  "The 
young  larva  enters  the  bark  at  the  axil  of  a  leaf -stem,  and 
eats  around  the  stem  in  a  long  spiral.  By  early  August 
the  galls  commence  to  form  where  the  bark  has  been 
girdled,  though  sometimes  no  gall  results  from  the  injury, 
and  the  larvae  mine  into  the  pith.  The  larvae  probably 
become  practically  full  grown  in  the  fall  and  remain  in 
their  burrows  over  winter,  in  which  they  transform  to 
pupae  in  late  April "    (Sanderson). 

Coniferous  Trees 

Buprestids  are  ver\^  fond  of  conifers  and,  although  this 
division  is  quite  restricted  botanically,  relatively  few 
species  (all  occurring  on  pine)  can  be  mentioned  here. 

312 


BUPRESTID/C. 

Chalcophora  virginiensis  is  one  of  our  largest  Buprestids, 
attaining  a  length  of  i  or  i  .25  inches.  Much  larger  Bupres- 
tids occur  in  the  tropics,  the  family  home,  and  many  of 
them  are  brilliantly  colored.  In  this  genus  the  hind  tarsi 
have  the  first  joint  elongated  and  the  males  have  a  distinct 
sixth  ventral  segment.  This  species  is  dull  black,  feebly 
bronzed,  the  impressions  of  the  thorax  and  el3^ra  often 
brassy;  head  with  a  deep,  median  groove,  which  is  broader 
and  deeper  in  front;  pronotum  one-third  wider  than  long, 
sides  rounded  on  apical  third,  disk  with  a  broad  median 
impression  and  two  others  each  side,  in  the  regions  of  the 
front  and  hind  angles ;  eljrtra  each  with  four  to  six  elongate 
impressed  spaces  which  are  finely  and  rather  densely 
punctate. 

Buprestis  lineata  is  .5  in.  or  more,  long.  Each  elytron 
has,  typically,  two  longitudinal,  yellowish  stripes.  The 
general  color,  above,  is  metallic  black;  beneath,  dull 
bronze;  head  and  prostemum,  yellowish. 

Buprestis  ultramarina  is  about  .5  in.  long;  brilliant  green 
with  the  sutural  and  outer  margins  of  the  el}i;ra  coppery 
red. 

Dicerca  punctulata  is  superficially  much  like  D.  divaricata 
(p.  312)  but  smaller  (about  .5  in.),  and  has  a  pair  of  promi- 
nent, shining,  longitudinal  ridges  on  the  middle  of  the  pro- 
notum and  parts  of  a  second  pair  outside  of  these. 

Melanophila  acuminata  (also  called  longipes)  is  often 
nearly  .5  in.  long  and  all  black.  It  is  found  on  various 
conifers.  M.  fulvo guttata  is  about  the  same  size,  and 
has  three  yellow  dots  on  each  elytron;  found  on  spruce  and 
hemlock.  M.  ceneola  is  rarely  longer  than  .25  in.;  prono- 
tum bronzy;  elytra  metallic  black. 

The  males  of  Chrysobothris  floricola  have  a  single,  acute 
tooth  on  each  front  tibia;  those  of  dentipes  have  none,  but 
the  tibiae  are  dilated  at  the  tip  (those  of  femorata,  p.  310, 
have  numerous  fine  teeth  on  the  inner  edge). 

Deciduous  Forest  Trees 

The  following  are  among  the  more  easily  recognized : 
Buprestis  fasciata  about  .6  in.  long;  brilliant  metallic 
green,  often  with  blue  iridescence;  a  wavy  yellow  band 

313 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


across  each  elytron,  back  of  the  middle,  a  yellow  spot 
back  of  this  and  sometimes  one  in  front.  On  maple  and 
poplar. 

Chrysohothris  azurea  is  usually  a  little  more  than  .25  in. 
long.  Its  color  varies  from  blue  to  greenish,  coppery,  and 
violet.  Each  elytron  has  the  following  brilliant  blue  or 
green  markings,  which  appear  to  be  depressed :  a  somewhat 
variable  streak  or  combination  of  spots  at  the  base,  one 
circular  spot  near  the  middle,  and  one  two-thirds  of  the 
way  to  the  apex.     On  birch,  sumac,  and  dogwood. 

Brachys — The  several  species  of  this  genus  are  leaf- 
miners  and  abundant.  The  adult  larva  makes  a  curious 
noise,  within  the  mined  leaf,  by  switching  his  body  rapidly. 

Herbaceous  Plants 

Pachyscelus  purpureus  mines  in  the  leaves  of  the  bush- 
clover  (Lespedeza).  The  adult  is  usually  less  than  .2  in. 
long  and  the  shoulders  are  so  broad  that,  from  above,  it 
looks  hunched  up.  The  head  and  pronotum  are  black; 
■elytra,  purple. 

Lampyrid^ 

Nearly  all  Americans  who  are  blessed  with  eyes  have 
seen  Fireflies  and  many  have  seen  Glowworms.  These 
insects  belong  to  this  family  but  most  of  the  species  of 
Lampyridae  are  not  luminous.  A  family  characteristic 
is  that  the  elytra,  when  present,  are  thin  and  flexible; 
there  are  seven  or  eight  visible,  ventral,  abdominal  seg- 
ments. For  the  most  part,  the  species  are  predaceous, 
especially  as  larvae.  The  larvae  usually  live  under  rubbish 
or  the  bark  of  logs  and  dead  trees. 

Folsom  says:  "In  Lampyridae,  the  light  is  emitted  from 
the  ventral  side  of  the  posterior  abdominal  segments.  In 
our  common  Photinus,  the  seat  of  the  light  is  a  modified  por- 
tion of  the  fat-body — a,  photogenic  plate,  situated  immedi- 
ately under  the  integument  and  supplied  with  a  profusion 
of  fine  tracheal  branches.  The  cells  of  the  photogenic 
plate,  it  is  said,  secrete  a  substance  which  undergoes  rapid 
combustion  in  the  rich  supply  of  oxygen  furnished  by  the 
tracheae. 

314 


THE  LIGHT  OF  FIREFLIES. 


"The  rays  emitted  by  the  common  fireflies  are  re- 
markable in  being  almost  entirely  light  rays,  with  almost 
no  thermal  or  actinic  rays.  According  to  Young  and 
Langley,  the  radiations  of  an  ordinary  gas-flame  contain 
less  than  three  per  cent,  of  visible  rays,,  the  remainder  being 
heat  or  chemical  rays,  of  no  value  for  illuminating  purposes; 
while  the  light-giving  efficiency  of  the  electric  arc  is  only 
ten  per  cent,  and  that  of  sunlight  only  thirty-five  per 
cent.  The  light  of  the  firefly,  however,  may  be  rated 
at  one  hundred  per  cent.;  this  light,,  then,  is  perfect,  and 
as  yet  unapproached  by  artificial  means. 

"As  to  the  use  of  this  luminosity,^  there  is  a  general 
opinion  that  the  light  exists  for  the  purpose  of  sexual 
attraction — a  belief  held  by  the  author  in  regard  to  Pho- 
tinus,  at  least.  Another  view  is  that  the  light  is  a  warning 
signal  to  nocturnal  birds,  bats,  or  other  insectivorous 
animals;  this  is  supported  by  the  fact  that  lampyrids  are 
refused  by  birds  in  general,  after  experience;  young  birds 
readily  snap  at  a  firefly  for  the  first  time,  but  at  once 
reject  it  and  thereafter  pay  no  attention  to  these  insects." 
In  some  species  the  eggs,  also,  are  luminous. 

The  Lampyridae  may  be  divided  into  four  subfamilies: 
Lycinas,  Lampyrinae,  Telephorinas,  and  Drilinae. 

The  Lycinas  have  the  middle  cox£e  rather  widely  sepa- 
rated by  the  mesonotum.  The  elytra  usually  have  a 
coarse  network  of  fine  elevated  lines.  The  head  is  some- 
times prolonged  in  front  of  the  eyes  into  a  long,  narrow 
beak.  The  antennae  are  usually  conspicuously  saw-toothed 
or  comb-like. 

Lycostomus  lateralis:  about  .4  in.  long;  black,  with  the 
sides  of  the  pronotum,  the  shoulders,  and  the  front  half  of 
the  margin  of  the  elytra,  yellow. 

Calopteron:  the  elytra  gradually  widen  from  base  to 
apex  and  each  has  six  longitudinal  ridges  (costae) ;  antennae 
saw -toothed.  C.  terminale  is  .5  to  .7  in.  long;  black, 
except  for  the  yellow  basal  half  or  two-thirds  of  the  elytra 
and  a  very  narrow  margin  of  yellow  on  the  sides  of  the 
pronotum.  C.  reticulatum  and  typicum  axe  about  the 
same  size  as  termi-iale,  but  the  pronotum,  especially  of 
reticulatum  (Plate  LXXVIII),  is  broadly  margined  with 

315 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


yellow,  and  the  yellow  area  of  the  elytra  is  crossed  by  a 
black  band,  which  is  very  wide  in  typicum. 

Celetes  basalts  is  about  .3  in.  long;  color  much  as  in 
Lycostomus  lateralis  but  the  elytral  yellow  much  reduced. 
The  antennae,  especially  of  the  male,  are  decidedly  comb- 
like (feathered  on  one  side). 

Caniella  dimidiata  is  apt  to  be  confused  with  Calopteron 
terminale  but  its  antennas  are  comb-like,  not  merely  saw- 
toothed. 

Eros.  Most  of  the  species  of  this  genus,  and  also  of 
Plateros  and  Calochromus,  are  black,  with  yellow-mar- 
gined pironota.  However,  E.  aurora  has  scarlet  elytra; 
the  under  surface  of  the  body  is  black. 

The  subfamily  Lampyrinae  contains  the  Ivuninous 
species.  The  middle  coxae  touch  each  other;  the  elytra 
are  not  reticulate  (netted) ;  and  the  head  is  nearly,  or  quite, 
covered  by  the  pronotum.  The  Lampyrini  usually  have 
the  bases  of  the  antennae  near  together.  Of  the  Lampyrini, 
all  except  Photuris  have  the  head  completely  covered  by 
the  pronotum  and  the  second  joint  of  the  antennae  smalls 
Polydasis  is  the  only  genus  of  this  tribe  having  pectinate 
(comb-like) antennae,  and  in  it  there  are  pectinations  on  both 
sides.  In  Lucidota,  Ellychnia,  and  Pyropyga  the  eyes  are 
small  and  the  light-organs  are  feeble.  For  the  most  part, 
they  are  black  species  with  yellow  on  the  pronotum.  In 
Pyractomena  and  Photinus  the  eyes  are  large,  but  larger  in 
the  males  than  in  the  females  and  the  light-organs  are 
well  developed.  Pyractomena  and  Photinus  are  dark 
brown,  or  black,  with  yellow  on  the  pronotum  and  margins 
of  the  wings.  These  yellow  margins  are  particularly 
pronounced  in  Pyractomena  angulata;  the  narrow-margined 
forms  are  not  easily  differentiated.  The  females  of 
Pyractomena  have  the  light-ofgans  on  the  sides  of  the 
abdomen  and  those  of  Photinus  have  them  on  the  middle. 
Pyractomena  a7igulata  is  not  usually  common  but  is  very 
brilliant.  Pyractomena  ecostata  is  usually  found  about 
marshes,  its  larvae  probably  living  on  snails.  Photinus 
marginellus  and  scintillans  (Plate  LXXVIII),  are  very 
common.  The  males  fly  low  and  have  a  yellow  light.  The 
females  have  only  partially  developed  wings  and  do  not  fly. 

316 


THE  FIREFLY  FAMILY. 


Photuris  (see  above)  pennsylvanica  about  .5  in.  long, 
or  a  little  longer;  head  and  pronotum  dull  yellow,  the 
latter  with  a  central  red  area  crossed  by  a  narrow  median 
dark  stripe;  elytra  brownish,  with  pale  markings  (Plate 
LXXVIII).  This  is  the  largest  and  most  brilliant  of  our 
common  fireflies.  Photuris  frontalis  is  similar  but  smaller. 
Both  have  a  greenish  light. 

The  males  of  Phengodes,  a  genus,  which  has  been  placed 
in  both  Lampyrinag  and  Telephorinae,  are  not  luminous 
but  the  larvas  and  wingless  females,  which  usually  live 
under  stones,  are  the  most  brilliant  of  our  forms,  giving 
off  light  from  lateral  joints  along  the  body.  They  are 
usually  rare.  The  males  may  be  recognized  by  their 
resemblance  to  the  species  shown  in  Plate  LXXVIII. 

The  subfamily  Telephorinse  differs  from  the  Lampyrinae 
in  not  having  the  head  at  least  partly  covered  by  the 
pronotum.  None  of  the  species  are  luminous  and  the 
sexes  are  much  alike.  For  the  most  part,  they  are  black 
or  brownish,  with  more  or  less  yellow  on  the  head  and 
pronotum. 

In  Podabrus  modestus  the  pronotum  is  all  yeUow;  elytra 
narrowly  margined  with  yellow;  legs  black. 

In  TeUphorus  rotundicollis  the  head,  pronotum,  and 
legs  are  reddish;  elytra,  dark  gray-brown. 

Chauliognathus  pennsylv aniens  (Plate  LXXVIII)  and 
C.  marginatus  are  called  Soldier  Beetles.  "The  species 
of  this  genus  are  known  from  all  others  by  the  elongate 
head,  and  by  the  singular  structure  of  the  maxillary  lobe, 
which  has  a  long,  extensile,  pilose,  thread-like  process 
which  can  be  pushed  out  and  used  to  gather  food.  In 
this  respect  it  is  somewhat  similar  to  the  tongue  or  pro- 
boscis of  a  moth  or  butterfly.  The  mature  beetles  are 
said  to  feed  solely  upon  the  honey  and  pollen  of  various 
ilowers.  The  larvse  are,  however,  strongly  carnivorous, 
those  of  our  common  species  being  very  beneficial  in  that 
they  feed  upon  the  larvas  of  the  plum  curculio  and  other 
injurious  forms."  The  two  species  mentioned  above 
may  be  separated  by  the  facts  that  in  pe^msylvanicus 
the  pronotum  is  wider  than  long  and  the  head  black,  while 
in  mnrginatus  the  pronotum  is  longer  than  wide  and  the 

317 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


head  is  yellow  with  black  spots.  In  both,  the  light  color 
is  yellow.  The  amount  of  black  on  the  elytra  is  very 
variable,  sometimes  covering  nearly  the  whole  elytra. 
Adults  of  marginatus  appear  in  the  spring  and  eariy 
summer,  while  those  of  pennsylvanicus  are  autumn  crea- 
tures, delighting  especially  in  the  goldenrod. 

The  subfamily  Drilinae  has  but  recently  been  doubtfully 
detected  in  America.  Telegeusis  was  described  from  the 
Pacific  Coast  by  Horn  and  is  put  in  this  subfamily  by 
some  authorities.  It  was  found  in  1916  by  the  author 
in  Arizona.  The  maxillary  lobe  is  nearly  as  long  as  the 
beetle. 

MALACHIIDiE 

There  are  not  many  species  in  this  family.  The  elytra 
are  soft,  as  in  the  Lampyridas;  but  Malachiidae  are  not 
luminous,  and  they  have  only  five  or  six  visible,  ventral, 
abdominal  segments.  All  of  them  are  found  on  flowers 
or  herbage,  some  only  in  moist  or  low  places,  where  they 
are  said  to  feed  on  insect  eggs,  larvae,  and  smaller  insects 
generally.  The  larvae,  so  far  as  known,  are  predaceous. 
Collops  guadritnaculatus  (Plate  LXXIX)  is  one  of  our 
largest  and  commonest  species.  The  head  and  abdomen 
are  black;  pronotum  and  elytra,  reddish-yellow,  each 
of  the  latter  having  two  blue  or  bluish-black  spots. 

CLERIDiE 

The  Checkered  Beetles  are  rather  small,  but,  for  the 
most  part,  they  are  graceful  and  pretty.  The  thorax  is 
generally  elongate  and  often  much  narrower  than  either 
the  head  or  the  combined  elytra.  Some  look  like  ants; 
others  resemble  Lampyrids.  The  11-  (or,  rarely,  10-) 
jointed  antennae  are  enlarged  toward  the  tip  somewhat 
like  a  club.  The  tarsi  are  all  5-jointed  but  the  first 
and  fourth  joints  are  often  inconspicuous;  all  but  the  fifth 
have  membranous  appendages.  The  usually  pubescent 
adults  occur  chiefly  on  flowers,  about  flowing  sap,  and  on 
the  foliage  of  trees  and  low  shrubs.  Both  they  and  the 
larvae  are  predaceous,  especially  on  wood-boring  larvae. 

318 


Plate  LXXIX 


Collops 
^-moculatus 


ThanBroclerus 
Trichodes        so^^'^Bii5 
nutlolli 


NecrobiQ    rujipes'        Sitodrepa 

panicea 


1 


iQsiodermQ 
serricorne 


Lycfus 
StriQtus 


LucQni/5 
daiBQ 


PqssdIi/s        Nlcoqas 
cornutus     obscuru^ 


319 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


We  have  three  cosmopolitan  species  of  Necrohia.  They 
are  known  as  Bone  Beetles  because  they  are  usually  found 
on  carrion  after  most  of  the  flesh  is  gone,  probably  feeding 
on  other  insects  there  rather  than  on  the  carrion.  N. 
nifipes  (Plate  LXXIX)  is  called  the  Red-legged  Ham- 
beetle  from  its  frequent  appearance  in  that  staple.  Herrick 
says:  "When  the  larva  gets  ready  to  transform  it  makes 
a  curious  and  interesting  cocoon  in  a  rather  novel  way. 
The  lar\''a  leaves  the  fatty  portions  and  gnaws  its  way 
either  to  the  harder,  more  fibrous  parts  of  the  ham  or  may- 
be into  a  near-by  beam.  Here  it  makes  a  glistening  white 
cocoon  that  looks  much  like  paper.  The  cocoon  is  not 
made  from  silk  like  the  cocoons  of  most  insects,  but  is 
composed  of  small  globules  of  spit  out  of  the  mouth  of  the 
larva.  These  globules  adhere  to  each  other  and  when 
dry  form  the  paper-like  cocoon."  The  three  species 
may  be  separated  as  follows  (none  exceed  a  quarter  of  an 
inch  in  length) : 

1.  Pronotum  and  base  of  elytra  red;  rest  of  elytra  blue 
or  green;  head  and  abdomen  black ruficollis. 

No  red  on  dorsal  surface,  but  bluish    2. 

2.  Legs  and  basal  joints  of  antennae  red rufipes. 

Legs  and  antennae  dark violacea. 

Necrohia  is  one  of  those  genera  in  which  the  fourth 
tarsal  joint  is  indistinct  and  the  disk  of  the  thorax  is 
separated  from  the  flanks  by  a  marginal  line.  In  TricJiodes 
(front  margin  of  eyes  indented;  antennal  club  triangular) 
and  Thaneroclerus  (eye-margin  not  indented;  the  3-jointed 
antennal  club  gradually  formed)  the  fourth  tarsal  joint  is 
of  normal  size  (the  first  joint  is  very  small  and  covered, 
above,  by  the  second;  tarsal  claws  toothed).  Trichodes 
nuttalli  (bluish,  with  reddish-yellow  markings)  and 
Thaneroclerus  sanguineus  (brown,  with  red  elytra)  are 
shown  in  Plate  LXXIX. 

Ptinid^ 

The  small  (,25  in.  and  less  in  length)  beetles  of  this 
family  are  so  various  that  it  is  difficult  to  characterize  the 
family.     The  thorax  usually  extends  above  the  head  like 

320 


AN  OMNIVOROUS  BEETLE. 


a  hood,  the  head  being  bent  under  and  rarely  visible  from 
above;  the  front  and  middle  coxas  are  cylindrical  or  nearly 
globular;  the  first  of  the  tarsal  joints  is  often  longer  than 
the  second.  They  live  on  dry  animal  and  vegetable 
products  and  in  dead  wood.  The  following  are  rather 
frequently  noticed. 

I  had  not  been  at  the  American  Museum 
Sitodrepa  ^^    Natural    History    very    long    before    a 

mystified  lady  brought  in  some  red  pepper 
which  had  been  kept  in  a  tight  tin  box  and  which,  never- 
theless, had  in  it  reddish-brown  beetles  about  .i  in.  long. 
A  lens  showed  the  characteristic  form  (Plate  LXXIX) 
and  bristling  yellow  pubescence  of  this  Drug-store  Beetle. 
I  assured  her  that  even  red  pepper  is  not  too  strong  for  it. 
At  least  forty-five  different  drugs,  including  aconite, 
belladonna,  squill,  orris  root,  and  ergot,  are  in  its  menu. 
It  has  been  known  to  bore  through  tin-foil  and  sheet- 
lead.  Printed  books  are  not  too  dry  for  it;  and  it  eats  all 
sorts  of  seeds  and  dry  groceries.  There  still  remained, 
in  the  visitor's  mind,  curiosity  concerning  the  sufficiency 
of  air  and  water  in  the  "  tight  tin  box."  I  took  her  pepper 
and  beetles,  put  them  in  a  glass  vial,  corked  it,  sealed  it 
with  paraffin,  and  put  it  in  an  exhibition  case,  suggesting 
that  she  come  back  occasionally  to  see  how  her  captives 
were  getting  along.  At  the  end  of  two  years  and  a  half 
there  had  been  numerous  generations  of  offspring  which, 
by  that  time,  had  reduced  the  pepper  and  part  of  the  cork 
to  such  an  unnutritious  powder  that  even  Sitodrepa  had 
to  give  up.  Under  favorable  conditions  there  is  a  genera- 
tion every  two  months. 

This  is  a  good  place  to  say  that  there  is  no  such  thing 
as  tJie  Book  Worm  among  insects.  This  insect  is  one. 
Another  of  the  same  family  has  a  record  of  having  "pene- 
trated directly  through  twenty-seven  large  quarto  volumes 
in  so  straight  a  line  that  a  string  could  be  passed  through 
the  opening  and  the  whole  series  of  volumes  suspended." 
This  was  Ptinus  fur  (Plate  LXXIX)  the  small  reddish- 
brown  Spider  Beetle  whose  female  has  two  white  patches 
on  each  elytron.  In  fact,  almost  any  insect  which  feeds 
on  dry,  starchy  material  may  eat  books. 

21  -21 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


A  spider-like  creature,  .1   in.  long,  with 

11  "d*  globose,  mahogany  back  and  pale  brown, 

velvety  head  and  thorax,  infests  old,  not 

over  clean  dwellings.     It  occasionally  is  found  in  New  York 

restaurants  in  the  sugar  bowl. 

The  small  burrows  in  cigars  and  cigarettes 
Lasiodenna  ^^^  usually  the  work  of  this  species  (Plate 

LXXIX),  the  Cigar  and  Cigarette  Beetle. 
Although  very  fond  of  tobacco,  its  dietary  is  much  the 
same  as  that  of  Sitodrepa.  It  averages  less  than  .2  in. 
long,  and  the  last  three  joints  of  the  antennas  are  not 
enlarged  like  those  of  Sitodrepa;  the  front  angles  of  the 
pronotum  are  more  acute.  The  white  larvae  resemble 
those  of  the  Drug-store  Beetle  but  are  hairier. 

This  and  several  related  species  bore  in 

Anobium  ^^^  wood  of  houses  and  furniture.     In  the 

striatum 

role  of  Death-watch  they  sometimes  play  a 

grim  joke  on  superstitious  hvunans  who  believe  that  the 

ticking  sound  which  the  beetle  makes  portends  the  death 

of  some  one  in  the  house.     Swift  had  the  right  idea: 

"A  kettle  of  scalding  hot  water  ejected 
Infallibly  cures  the  timber  affected ; 
The  omen  is  broken,  the  danger  is  over. 
The  maggot  will  die,  and  the  sick  will  recover." 

They  make  the  noise  by  bobbing  their  heads  up  and 
down,  tapping  the  wood.  Instead  of  foretelling  death, 
it  is  doubtless  a  call  for  a  mate  and  new  lives. 

BoSTRYCHIDiE 

These  are  distinguished  from  the  Ptinidae  by,  among  other 
characters,  their  more  cylindrical  form  and  by  having 
the  first  joint  of  the  tarsi  very  short  and  imperfectly  sepa- 
rated from  the  second.  The  eyes  are  small,  rounded,  and 
somewhat  prominent  (See  Scolytidae).  From  Scolytidae 
they  may  be  diflferentiated  also  by  the  loose- jointed  club 
of  the  antennae.     In  Scolytidae  this  club  is  a  compact  knob. 

Sinoxylon  hasilare  (length  about  .25  in.;  black,  with  basal 
third  of  elytra  dull  reddish-yellow;  apical  fourth  of  elytra 

322 


POWDERPOST  BEETLES. 


bent  downward  nearly  at  right  angles  on  apical  fourth, 
with  three  tubercles  on  each  side  of  the  declivity)  makes 
short,  curved  galleries  in  the  branches  of  a  number  of 
trees  such  as  hickory,  persimmon,  mulberry,  apple,  peach, 
and  grapevine. 

Bostrichus  hicornis  (length,  .3  to  .5  in.;  blackish  with 
irregular  patches  of  yellowish  scales;  pronotum  prolonged 
in  front  in  two  serrate,  hooked  processes)  bores  into  dead 
twigs,  under  bark,  and  in  fungi.  Several  other  similar 
species  occur  but  this  is  usually  the  commonest. 

Amphicerus  hicaudatus  is  about  .3  in.  long;  dark  brown, 
pubescent;  has  the  pronotum  roughened  in  front  with 
minute,  elevated  points  (two  little  horns  in  the  male); 
and  males  have  a  thom-like  projection  near  the  end  of  each 
elytron.  In  early  spring  the  adults  bore  into  twigs  of 
apple,  pear,  and  cherry,  apparently  solely  for  food  and 
shelter,  as  the  larvas  live  in  the  roots  of  cat-brier  {Smilax) 
and  the  dead  shoots  of  grapevines. 

LYCTID.E 

Lyctus  striatus  (Plate  LXXIX),  and  related  species, 
bore  into  dry  wood  of  furniture,  trimmings,  and  construc- 
tion timber,  often  doing  a  great  deal  of  harm  that  is 
difficult  to  prevent.  They  are  sometimes  called  Powder- 
post  Beetles  and  "all  live  in  dry  wood,  either  in  cylindrical 
burrows  or  beneath  the  bark,  and  sometimes  in  such 
numbers  that  the  timber  is  wholly  destroyed  by  them." 
Frequently  the  interior  of  the  wood  is  largely  reduced  to 
powder  before  the  small  exit  holes  of  the  beetles  are  noticed. 
The  common  species  are  reddish-brown,  cylindrical,  and 
about  .2  in.  long. 

The  Serricom  series  ends  with  a  number  of  small  families 
of,  for  the  most  part,  small,  not  frequently  noticed,  species. 

CUPESIDiE 

Cupes  is  our  only  genus  and  the  pale  brownish  or  ashy 
gray  concolor,  .3  in.  long,  is  the  commonest  species.  The 
eyes  are  prominent;  the  head  and  thorax  are  narrower 
than  the  combined  elytra,  which  are  beautifully  sculptured 

323 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


in  impressed  rows  separated  by  ridges.     These  insects  are 
found  on  dead  wood  and  under  bark. 

Lymexylonid^ 

llie  name  of  the  typical  genus,  Lymexylon,  means  "to 
niin  wood,"  and  the  long  (about  .5  in.),  slender,  brown 
with  silky  pubescence,  L.  sericeum,  may  occasionally  be 
found,  particularly  under  the  bark  of  oak  logs.  The  very 
slender  larvae  make  small,  irregular  galleries. 

ClOID^ 

These  are  somewhat  cylindrical,  black  or  brownish 
beetles,  which  rarely  are  more  than  .13  in.  long.  They 
are  usually  found  under  the  bark  of  trees  and  in  dry,  woody 
fungi.  Some  species  have  been  accused  of  making  small, 
round  holes  in  woodwork  and  books,  but  they  are  not 
usually  injurious. 

Spindid^ 

Similar  to  the  Cioidae  in  appearance  and  habits.  Not 
common. 

LAMELLICORNIA 

Seep.  281.  The  front  tibiae  are  dilated  and  strongly 
toothed  or  scalloped  on  the  outer  edge. 

LUCANID^ 

These  are  the  Stag-Beetles  and  Pinching  Bugs  par 
excellence.  The  terminal  joints,  or  lamellae,  of  the  antennae 
of  this  family  are  not  decidedly  flattened  but  are  pro- 
longed on  the  inner  side  to  form  a  pectinate  club,  the 
joints  of  which  can  not  be  brought  closely  together. 
Some  of  the  species  come  freely  to  lights.  The  larvae  are 
fat,  white  grubs,  living  in  decaying  wood. 

1.  Elytra  with  longitudinal  grooves 4. 

Elytra  without  longitudinal  grooves 2. 

2.  Antennae  elbowed  at  end  of  first  joint,  which  is  nearly 
or  quite  as  long  as  all  the  others  united 3. 

Antennae  straight,  first  joint  not  so  long;  length,  less 
than  .5  in Nicagus. 

324 


LUCANID/E  :  STAQ=BEETLES. 


3.  Length,  .75  in.  or  more Lucanus. 

Length,  usually  not  more  than  .5  in. ;  elytra  with  traces 

of  longitudinal  grooves Platycerus. 

4.  Antennae  elbowed  at  end  of  first  joint,  which  is  nearly 
or  quite  as  long  as  all  the  others  united 5. 

Antennae  straight 6. 

5.  Length,  more  than  .5  in.;  eyes  strongly  notched  by  the 
margin  of  the  head Dorcus, 

Length,  less  than  .5  in.;  eyes  not  strongly  notched. 

Platycerus. 

6.  Length,  more  than  i  in.;  front  of  head  with  a  short 
bent  horn  on  head Passalus, 

Length,  less  than  i  in. ;  no  horn  on  head ....  Ceruchus. 

Lucanus  It  is  only  the  males  which  have  abnor- 

mally long  mandibles.  L.  elaphus  is  a 
southern  species  which  gets  as  far  north  as  New  Jersey  and 
Indiana.  The  mandibles  of  the  male  are  as  long  as  the 
abdomen.  The  female  may  be  separated  from  the  other  two 
species  mentioned  by  her  black  legs  and  chestnut-brown 
elytra.  Length  of  male  (not  including  mandibles),  1,3  to 
1.6  inches;  of  female,  about  1.2  inches.  L.  dama  (Plate 
LXXIX),  the  common  species  near  New  York:  like 
placidus,  the  mandibles  of  the  male  are  only  about  as  long 
as  the  thorax ;  each  mandible  has  but  one  tooth  on  the  inner 
side;  the  head  of  the  male  is  broader  than  the  thorax; 
femora,  light  brown;  length,  i  to  1.4  in.  The  mandibles 
of  the  male  placidus,  sl  species  said  to  be  common  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley  but  rare  along  the  coast,  are  straight 
and  have  several  teeth  on  the  inner  side;  the  head  of  the 
male  is  not  broader  than  the  thorax;  the  femora  are  dark 
brown. 

Dorcus  parallelus:  brownish  black;  male's  head  nearly 
as  broad  as  the  pronotum,  female's  narrower. 

Platycerus  quercus:  blackish  or  dark  reddish-brown; 
male's  mandibles  as  long  as  the  head,  longer  than  the 
female's,  and  with  about  six  teeth  at  the  tip;  grooves  on 
elytra  usually  reduced  to  three  or  four  faint  ones  near  the 
suture.  Found  most  frequently  imder  bark  of,  as  its 
name  indicates,  oak. 

325 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Ceruchus  piceus:  black  or  dark  reddish-brown;  male's 
mandibles  as  long  as  the  head,  with  a  large  median  tooth; 
female's  mandibles  about  half  as  long  as  the  head,  with 
three  or  four  blunt  teeth  on  inner  side;  elytral  grooves 
shallow. 

Passalus  cornutus  (Plate  LXXIX)  can  make  a  creaking 
or  a  hissing  noise  by  rubbing  the  elytra.  The  third  pair 
of  larval  legs  are  aborted  but  in  some  species,  at  least, 
are  used  to  make  a  noise  by  scratching  the  roughened 
middle  legs.  Some  authors  put  this  genus  in  a  separate 
family,  Passalid^. 

Nicagus  ohscurus  (Plate  LXXIX)  occurs  under  drift 
in  damp,  sandy  places. 

SCARAB^ID^ 

This  large  family  (nearly  20,000  species  and  "increasing 
by  the  discovery  of  about  300  new  species  every  year") 
contains  such  forms  as  the  May  Beetles  (June  Bugs),  the 
"shard-borne  beetle  with  his  drowsy  hum"  of  Shakespeare, 
and  the  Sacred  Scarab  of  Egypt.  The  larvae  are  usually 
yellowish-white,  with  a  brown,  chitinized  head  bearing 
prominent  mandibles;  they  are  wrinkled,  fat  (especially 
at  the  hind  end)  "grubs"  which  live  in  excrement,  in 
decaying  wood,  or  in  the  ground,  and  normally  lie  on  their 
side  with  the  hind  end  almost,  or  quite,  touching  the  legs. 
Several  methods  of  classifying  the  members  of  this  family 
are  in  use,  of  which  the  following  is  about  as  convenient 
as  any. 

Coprinae 

Most  of  these  differ  from  the  rest  of  Lamellicorns  by 
living  in  dung  and  other  animal  matter.  The  abdominal 
spiracles  (breathing  holes)  are  placed  in  a  line  on  the 
membrane  connecting  the  dorsal  and  ventral  plates  and 
are  covered  by  the  elytra  when  the  wings  are  closed ;  upper 
surface  of  the  head  usually  much  dilated  on  the  front  and 
sides.  All  except  the  Acanthocerini  and  Trogini  have  six 
visible,  ventral,  abdominal  segments. 

326 


Plate  LXXX 


Canthon  loevis 


&BO!rupes 
blQckburnil 


Copris  CQrolinQ 


Phyllophaga 


Trox  suberosus 


Pelidnota  punctatQ 


MQcrodoctylus 
subspinosus 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Clceotus  is  the  only  genus  of  the  Acanthocerini  (rounded, 
smooth,  shining;  scutellum  relatively  large;  five  visible, 
ventral,  abdominal  segments)  that  is  likely  to  be  found  in 
our  region.  The  species  are  less  than  .25  in.  long,  and 
live  under  bark  and  in  rotten  wood.  Their  body  is  partly 
contractile  so  that  it  can  be  rolled  up  into  a  somewhat 
hemispherical  mass. 

Of  the  Coprini  (hind  tibi^  usually  with  a  single  terminal 
spur;  tip  of  abdomen  not  covered  by  elytra),  Canthon 
may  be  recognized  by  the  slender,  somewhat  curved, 
middle  and  hind  tibiae  being  but  little  enlarged  at  the 
tip;  the  males  never  have  horns.  The  others  have  these 
tibiae  much  expanded  at  the  tip  and  the  males  usually 
have  horns  on  the  head  or  pronotum.  Of  these,  Chceridium 
and  Onthophagus  rarely  exceed  .3  in.  in  length. 

Canthon  These  black  or  bronzed  beetles  are  the 

Tumble  Bugs,  which  make  balls  of  dung 
and  industriously  roll  them  about  (Plate  LXXX) .  Scara- 
bcEus  sacer  is  a  related  insect  with  similar  habits;  it  occurs 
in  the  IMediterranean  region  and  was  considered  sacred 
by  the  Egyptians.  It  seems  that  this  creature,  in  its  form 
and  actions,  was  believed  by  them  to  be  emblematical  of 
such  abstruse  things  as  the  planetary  movements  and 
future  life,  not  to  mention  minor  matters.  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  we  have  a  great  deal  to  learn  about  the  whys  and 
the  hows  of  the  ball-rolling.  Comstock  wrote  that  "this 
is  one  of  the  instances,  rare  among  insects,  where  the  male 
realizes  that  he  has  some  responsibility  as  a  father,  and 
assists  the  female  in  providing  for  the  young."  On  the 
other  hand,  Fabre,  observing  S.  sacer,  tells  of  females 
helping  each  other  to  the  extent  of  stealing  the  ball. 

Copris  Species  of  this  genus  do  not  roll  their 

food  to  some  distant  hole  for  burial  but  dig 
a  hole  in  the  ground  under  or  near  the  source  of  supply, 
usually  cow  dung.  This  hole  is  then  provisioned  and  a 
single  egg  is  laid  in  it.  Our  three  common  species  are 
plain  black.  C.  Carolina  (Plate  LXXX)  is  rarely  less  than 
.9  in.  long  and  each  elytron  has  but  seven  longitudinal 

328 


SCARAB^eiD^. 


striae.  C.  minutus  is  less  than  .5  in.  long,  while  the  size  of 
anaglypticus  is  intermediate;  they  have  eight  striae  on 
each  elytron. 

Phanaeus  These    are    brilliantly    colored    beetles. 

The  males  of  our  species  have  quite  a  horn 
on  their  heads  and  lack  tarsi  on  their  front  legs.  The  first 
joint  of  the  antennal  club  is  hollowed  out  to  receive  the 
others.  The  male  of  carnifex  is  shown  in  Plate  LXXXI. 
The  female  has  a  short,  blunt  tubercle  in  place  of  the 
male's  horn. 

No  attempt  will  be  made  here  to  give  the  genera  of 
Aphodiini  (hind  tibiae  with  two  spurs;  abdomen  covered  by 
elytra;  antennae  9-jointed)  in  detail.  Aplwdius  is  the 
largest,  both  as  regards  the  number  of  species  and  by  having 
the  largest-sized  species.  They  are  dung-feeders  which 
frequently  fly  in  great  numbers  during  warm  autumn  after- 
noons and,  like  their  relatives,  come  freely  to  light.  Aplw- 
dius fossor  is  shiny  black,  nearly  .5  in.  long.  ApJwdius 
fimetarius  has  shin}'-  black  head  and  pronotum  and  brick- 
red  elytra;  it  is  about  .3  in.  long.  There  are  many  smaller 
species. 

The  principal  genus,  in  the  Northeast,  of  the  Geotrupini 
(antennse  11 -jointed;  mandibles  prominent  and  visible 
from  above)  is  Geotriipes  (Plate  LXXX).  The  antennal 
clubs  are  not  very  large  and  the  plates  are  of  equal  thick- 
ness. Individuals  of  our  common  species  range  from  .5 
to  .75  in.  in  length  and  vary  from  black  to  purple  and 
dark  metallic  green.  Some  provision  holes,  as  does 
Copris,  with  dung;  others  live  in  decaying  "toadstools," 
especially  in  the  underground  stem.  Some,  possibly 
all,  of  the  species  can  make  a  faint  sound  by  rubbing  the 
hind  coxae  against  the  abdomen.  As  for  the  other  genera, 
their  antennal  clubs  are  large,  round,  and  convex  on  both 
sides.  The  eyes  of  Bolboceras  are  partially  divided  by  a 
process  from  the  side  of  the  head,  and  those  of  Bolhocero- 
soma  (black-and-brown  beetles  in  which  the  process  between 
the  middle  coxae  has  an  erect  tooth-like  elevation)  and  of 
Odontceus  (brown  beetles  without  this  "tooth")  are 
entirely  divided. 

329 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


As  far  as  we  are  concerned,  Trox  (Plate  LXXX)  is  the 
only  genus  of  Trogini.  Its  species  are  oblong,  convex, 
dirty-looking,  brown  beetles,  which  occur  under  or  about 
■carrion,  old  hides,  or  feathers.  The  surface  is  usually 
roughly  sculptured  and  covered  with  a  crust  of  earth  which 
is  difficult  to  remove.  Adults  stridulate  by  rubbing  the 
abdomen  against  the  elytra,  special  areas  being  roughened 
"for  this  purpose." 


Melolonthinae 

Here  belong  the  June  Bugs  or  Cockchafers.  The  adults 
are  often  very  abundant  about  lights  and  feed  chiefly  on 
leaves.  The  abdominal  spiracles  are  placed  almost  in  a 
line  but  not  more  than  the  front  three  spiracles  are  on  the 
membrane  connecting  the  dorsal  and  ventral  parts  of  the 
abdomen.  The  larvae  live  in  the  ground  and  feed  chiefly 
on  roots.  Our  principal  genera  may  be  separated  as 
follows: 

1.  Middle  and  hind  tibias  with  only  one  spur,  this  some- 
times obsolete;  hind  tarsi  with  a  single  claw Hoplia. 

Middle  and  hind  tibiae  with  two  spurs;  all  tarsi  with 
two  equal  claws 2. 

2.  Form  elongate,  slender;  colors  metallic  green  or 
bronzed  or  dull  yellow 3. 

Form    robust,    heavy;    color    brownish,    sometimes 
iridescent 4. 

3.  Elytra  pubescent,  not  densely  scaly;  claws  capable 
of  being  folded  along  the  last  joint  of  tarsi.  .  . Dichelonycka. 

Elytra    densely     covered    with    elongate,    yellowish 
scales;  tarsal  claws  not  as  above Macrodactylus. 

4.  Five  ventral,  abdominal  segments;  elytra  either 
uniformly  and  rather  finely  punctured  or  with  punctured 
striae Diplotaxis. 

Six  ventral,  abdominal  segments 5. 

5.  Less  than  .5  in.  long;  elytra  with  indistinct  but  regular 
grooves Serica. 

Usually  more  than   .5  in.  long;  most  of   the  elytra 
without  striae  or  grooves Phyllophaga. 

330 


JUNE  BUGS,  COCKCHAFERS. 


Hoplia.  Adults  are  usually  found  on  flowers  during 
the  day.     The  two  sexes  often  differ  in  size  and  color, 

Dichelonycha.  Adults  are  usually  found  on  leaves  of 
trees  and  shrubs.  The  eyes  are  rather  large  and  promi- 
nent. The  antennal  club  of  males  is  nearly  as  long  as  the 
rest  of  the  antenna. 


Macrodactylus  The  name  means  "long  fingered"  and 
all  who  grow  roses  will  agree  that  it  fits, 
in  both  a  literal  and  a  figurative  sense.  There  is  little 
you  can  do  to  combat  this  pest  unless  you  wish  either 
to  keep  your  roses,  flowers  and  all,  sprayed  with  poison 
when  the  beetles  are  around  or  to  plow  deeply  your  lawn 
and  the  lawns  of  all  your  neighbors  every  winter  in  order 
to  turn  the  young  of  these  Rose  Beetles  out  into  the  cold. 
It  is  of  some  help  to  go  out  several  times  a  day  and  knock 
the  adults  which  have  made  their  appearance  in  the 
intervals  into  a  cup  of  kerosene.  It  is  said  that  chickens 
die  from  eating  them.  The  Rose  Beetle  (Plate  LXXX) 
also  feeds  on  grape  blossoms.  Its  specific  name  is  sub- 
spinosus.  A  much  i'ess  common  species,  angustatus,  also 
occurs.  It  is  more  southern  in  its  distribution  and  confines 
its  attentions  chiefly  to  oak  and  other  wild  plants.  The 
specific  distinctions  are  slight  and  technical. 


Phyllophaga  These    (Plate    LXXX)    are   the   beetles 

that  buzz  and  bang  about  the  room  in  the 
early  summer  evenings,  usually  going  under  the  name  of 
Lachnosterna.  There  are  numerous  species  but  distinguish- 
ing them  is  a  matter  of  considerable  difficulty.  The  female 
is  said  to  deposit  her  eggs,  enclosed  in  a  ball  of  earth,  among 
the  roots  of  grass.  The  larvse  are  "white  grubs";  they 
get  to  be  about  as  thick  as  a  man's  little  finger  and  are 
frequently  very  injurious  to  the  roots  of  various  plants. 
Cases  have  been  reported  in  which  they  were  so  numerous  in 
lawns  that  they  had  completely  cut  the  roots;  the  turf 
could  be  rolled  up  like  a  carpet.  The  larval  stage  of  some 
species,  at  least,  lasts  for  two  or  three  years.  Pupation 
occurs  in  an  underground  cell. 

331 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


The  remainder  of  the  subfamilies  have  the  abdominal 
spiracles  placed  in  two  lines  on  each  side,  the  front  three 
on  the  connecting  membrane  and  the  others  on  the  ventral 
segments. 

Of  the  four  genera  of  Rutelinae  (claws  on  each  tarsus 
unequal  in  size,  the  inner  one  much  more  slender  than  the 
outer)  to  be  mentioned  here,  Anomala  and  Strigoderma 
have  9-jointed  antennas,  and  mandibles,  when  closed, 
covered  by  the  clypeus;  Pelidnota  and  Cotalpa  have  lo- 
jointed  antennae  and  the  mandibles  are  usually  visible 
beyond  the  clypeus.  The  elytra  of  Anomala  are  convex, 
not  notched  at  the  base,  shallowly  striate,  and  with  small 
holes  (punctate);  the  thorax  is  not  hairy.  The  elytra  of 
Strigoderma  are  flattened,  notched  at  the  base,  deeply 
striate  but  not  punctate;  the  thorax  is  hairy  and  has 
impressed  lines. 

Cotalpa  lanigera,  the  Goldsmith  Beetle  (Plate  LXXXI), 
is  found  on  willow  and  poplar,  occasionally  on  oak,  and 
at  light.  Its  specific  name  refers  to  the  whitish  "wool" 
on  the  under  side. 

Pelidnota  punctata  is,  by  day,  common  on  grape,  drawing 
the  leaves  together  for  shelter,  and  by  night  at  lights.  It 
is  dull  reddish-brown  or  brownish-yellow  above,  with 
spots  as  shown  in  Plate  LXXX.  The  larvas  live  in  decay- 
ing stumps,  especially  of  oak  and  hickory. 

Of  our  more  common  Dynastinse  (claws  on  each  tarsus 
equal  in  size;  front  cox£e  transverse,  not  very  prominent; 
body  usually  convex  above),  Cyclocephala  and  Dyscinetus 
have  the  head  and  pronotum  plain;  the  others  have  at 
least  a  ridge  or  a  tubercle  on  one  or  the  other  or  both. 
The  color  of  our  species  of  Cyclocephala  is  brownish- 
yellow;  the  mandibles  are  narrow  and  scarcely  curved. 
Our  species  are  about  .5  in.  long.  The  color  of  Dyscinetus . 
trachypygus,  our  common  species,  is  practically  black; 
the  mandibles  are  broad,  rounded  on  the  outer  side,  and 
curved.  It  is  nearly  .75  in.  long  and  is  found  under 
rubbish  along  the  shores  of  the  sea,  lakes,  and  larger 
streams,  as  well  as  at  lights.     Of  the  others: 

332 


Plate  LXXXI 


V 


PhariGP-us 
corn  ilex 


i 


Aliorh'inQ 
\  n  i  t  i  d  a 


«. 

\ 


CotalpQ  iQniqerQ 


Desmocerus     Saperdo         GMllcne 
pQlliatub         Candida  robinioe 


M 


'X  X'lT  X 


Chrijsochu6 
Quratus 


GalerucellQ 
luteolQ 


OX-BEETLE  AND  RELATIVES. 


Dynastes  tityus  is  over  i  .5  in.  long.  It  is  usually  greenish- 
gray  with  brownish  or  blackish  spots  scattered  irregularly 
over  the  elytra.  The  common  name,  Unicorn  Beetle,  is 
scarcely  correct,  for  the  males  have  three  horns  on  the  pro- 
notum,  the  ones  on  the  sides  curved  and  very  short,  the 
median  one  with  yellowish  hair  beneath,  notched  at  the 
tip,  and  projecting  forward  to  meet  a  long,  curved  horn 
arising  from  the  head.  The  females  have  only  a  slight 
tubercle  on  the  middle  of  the  head.  It  is  a  southern 
insect,  rarely  seen  even  in  southern  New  Jersey,  for 
example;  I  have  found  larvae,  pupse,  and  adults  abundant 
in  rotten  wood  in  southern  Mississippi. 

Stratagus  antceus,  the  Ox-beetle,  is  an  inch  or  more 
long;  shiny,  dark  reddish-brown,  the  male's  pronotum 
almost  black.  The  male  has  one  stout  horn  on  each  side 
of  the  pronotum,  and  one  on  the  front  of  the  same 
segment;  the  female  has  merely  the  front  horn,  much 
reduced. 

Xyloryctes  satyrus  is  also  an  inch  or  more  long  and 
rather  stouter  than  the  preceding  species.  Its  color  is 
also  much  like  that  of  the  preceding  but  the  male,  instead 
of  horns  on  the  thorax,  has  a  long,  stout  one  on  the  head. 
It  is  called  the  Rhinoceros  Beetle,  but  this  is  confusing 
as  that  name  is  applied  more  aptly  to  certain  tropical 
species. 


The  Cetoniinae  have  the  claws  on  each  tarsus  equal; 
coxae  conical,  rather  prominent;  body  rather  flattened 
above;  the  antenna?  are  lo-jointed.  In  flying,  these 
insects  usually  "do  not  raise  the  elytra  as  most  beetles 
do,  but  the  inner  wings  pass  out  from  the  side  under  the 
elytra,  which  are  a  little  narrower  at  the  tips  than  the 
base  and  do  not  at  all  embrace  the  sides  of  the  body. 
The  members  of  this  subfamily  differ  from  the  other  'leaf 
chafers'  in  being  for  the  most  part  flower  beetles,  the 
mouth  organs  being  furnished  with  a  brush  of  hairs  with 
which  they  collect  the  pollen.  They  are  therefore  mostly 
diurnal,  flying  about  from  flower  to  flower  during  the 
heat  of  the  day.  At  night  and  in  cloudy  or  rainy  weather 
they  are  to  be  found  beneath  bark  or  other  cover." 

333 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Plate  LXXXI.     In  the  South  it  is  called 
i^tida'''*  *^^   Fig-eater.      When   flying,    it   is   easily 

mistaken  for  a  loudly  buzzing  bumble-bee. 
The  head  is  deeply  excavated,  the  front  with  a  horizontal 
spine  extending  forward  nearly  to  the  upturned  spine  of  the 
clypeus.  The  larv£e  feed  upon  the  roots  of  grass  and 
other  plants,  sometimes  being  decidedly  injurious. 


The   pronotum   is   triangular;   scutellum 
Euphoria  ^^^  covered;  side  pieces  of  the  mesothorax 

visible  from  above;  elytra  more  or  less  wavy  on  the  sides. 
Comstock  calls  inda  the  Bumble  Flower-beetle — a  name 
which  covers  its  habits  of  humming,  when  flying,  and  of 
feeding  in  flowers.  However,  the  name  might  well  be 
applied  to  its  relatives  also.  The  adults  often  feed  on 
fruit  and  green  com.  The  elevation  between  the  middle 
coxae  is  transverse;  head  and  pronotum  dark,  feebly 
bronzed,  the  latter  often  with  yellowish  spots;  elytra  brown- 
ish-yellow, mottled  with  black  spots  which  often  tend  to 
form  cross-bands;  pronotum  woolly;  length  somewhat 
over  half  an  inch.  E.  fulgidus  is  similar  in  size  and  form 
but  brilliant  polished  green  in  color. 


This  genus  differs  from  Euphoria  in 
Cremas  oc  us  j^a.ving  the  pronotum  quadrate,  with  promi- 
nent angles.  The  species  are  uniformly  blackish  and, 
while  not  especially  rare,  they  are  not  often  seen,  as  they 
live  in  and  about  the  nests  of  ants.  Our  species  are  not 
over  .5  in.  long.  There  are  pubescent  areas  near  the 
angles  of  the  pronotum  which  are  glandular  and  furnish 
agreeable  food  for  ants.  Sometimes  even  the  angles  are 
gnawed  off.  The  beetles  are  sluggish  and  "seem  to  be 
held  in  captivity  by  the  ants,  which  pull  them  back  into 
the  vicinity  of  the  nests  whenever  they  attempt  to  escape." 
However,  it  is  probable  that  the  advantages  are  not 
entirely  one-sided. 


334 


ODOR-OF-LEATHER  BEETLES. 


The  name  refers  to  the  "odor  of  leather." 
Osmoderma  g^^-j^  of  q^.  species  are  largely  nocturnal 
and  come  to  lights.  0.  eremicola  is  an  inch,  or  more,  long; 
shiny  dark  brown;  head  deeply  excavated  between  the 
eyes  in  both  sexes,  the  edge  with  a  tubercle  above  the  base 
of  the  antennae;  elytra  sparsely  punctate.  0.  scahra 
is  not  more  than  an  inch  long;  purplish-black,  bronzed; 
head  of  male  as  in  eremicola,  of  female  nearly  flat;  elytra 
roughly  sculptured.  The  larva  of  the  latter,  and  probably 
of  the  former  also,  lives  in  the  hollows  of  beech,  cherry, 
and  apple  trees,  feeding  upon  the  rotten  wood.  In  the 
autumn,  it  makes  an  oval  cell  of  fragments  of  wood  strongly 
cemented  with  a  kind  of  glue.  In  this  it  pupates,  emerging 
the  next  summer. 

We  have  only  two  species  of  this  genus. 
Valgus  Their  pronotum  has  a  deep  median  groove, 

and  the  body  is  more  or  less  covered  with  whitish  scales 
instead  of  hairs.  Adults  hibernate  in  groups  on  the  ground 
but  under  some  shelter  such  as  half-buried  logs.  V. 
canaliculatus  is  .25  in.,  or  less,  long;  reddish-brown,  feebly 
shining;  sides  of  pronotum,  and  base,  middle,  and  apex 
of  elytra  sparsely  clothed  with  yellowish  scales;  front 
tibiae  with  three  or  more  slender,  widely  separated  teeth 
on  the  outer  side.  V.  squamiger  is  slightly  larger  and 
darker;  front  tibiae  with  five  or  six  closely  placed,  stout, 
rounded  teeth. 

The  hind   coxae   touch   each   other;   the 
Trichius  pronotum  is  rounded  at  base  and  has  no 

median  groove;  elytra  not  longer  than  wide;  body  pubes- 
cent. Three  of  our  more  common  species  may  be  partially 
separated  as  follows,  all  being  a  trifle  less  than  .5  in.  long.. 
Elytra  reddish-brown,  tinged  with  green,  without  trans- 
verse, whitish  bands  or  velvety  spots  on  the  sides;  head, 
thorax,  body  beneath,  and  legs,  bright  metaUic  green: 
bibens.  Elytra  reddish-brown,  each  with  two  short, 
oblique,  whitish  bars;  head  and  thorax  greenish-black: 
piger.  T.  afinis  is  much  like  piger  but  more  shining  and 
separated  on  technical  characters. 

335 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


PHYTOPHAGA 

The  tarsi  are  really  5-jointed  but  are  usually  referred 
to  as  4-jointed  for  the  small  nodule  ("true  fourth  joint") 
at  the  base  of  the  long  claw-joint  is  not  usually  counted. 
With  this  convention  and  excepting  the  Spondylidae, 
we  may  say  that  the  tarsi  are  "apparently  four-jointed, 
the  three  basal  joints  usually  densely  set  with  cushion- 
like pubescence  beneath;  the  third  joint  different  in  form, 
being  divided  into  two  lobes,  or  grooved  on  its  upper 
surface  so  as  to  allow  of  the  fourth  joint  being  inserted 
near  its  base  instead  of  at  its  extremity ;  head  not  forming 
a  definite  prolonged  beak;  labrum  always  visible."  Al- 
most without  exception,  the  larvae  feed  on  some  part  or 
another  of  plants.  Although  the  families  are  sufficiently 
distinct,  once  you  know  them,  it  is  difficult  to  give  a 
satisfactory  elementary  key. 


Spondylid^ 

These  are  called  Aberrant  Long-homed  Beetles  and, 
although  apparently  related  to  the  Cerambycidae,  they  do 
not  fit  in  the  system  very  well.  The  fourth  tarsal  joint  is 
distinct,  though  not  large,  so  that  the  tarsi  are  clearly  5- 
jointed;  the  tarsal  joints  are  neither  much  dilated  nor  pu- 
bescent beneath;  the  antennae  are  short  and  inserted  at  the 
sides  of  the  head  near  the  bases  of  the  mandibles.  Only  one 
genus,  Parandra,  and  two  species  need  be  mentioned  here. 
Both  are  oblong,  reddish  to  mahogany  brown,  somewhat 
flattened,  and  varying  from  .4  to  .75  in.  in  length.  The 
antennae  reach  about  to  the  back  of  the  pronotum;  the 
second  joint  about  half  as  long  as  the  third.  In  P.  brunnea 
the  pronotum  is  distinctly  wider  than  the  head  and  punc- 
tured; in  P.  polita  it  is  not  wider  than  the  head  and  is  not 
punctured.  Both  breed  in  decaying  deciduous  and  coni- 
ferous trees,  the  adults  usually  being  found  just  under 
the  bark. 

336 


LONa=HORNED  BEETLES. 


Cerambycid^e 


The  more  than  13,000  species,  in  addition  to  the  general 
characteristics  of  Phytophaga,  usually  have  very  long 
antennae,  extending  back  of  the  pronotum  and  often 
back  of  the  tip  of  the  abdomen.  For  this  reason,  they 
are  often  called  Longicornes  or  "Long-horns."  Their 
form  is  usually  oblong,  with  parallel  sides;  and  they  have 
distinct  tibial  spurs.  When  caught,  the  adults  often 
make  a  peculiar,  squeaking  noise.  Sharp  says  they  do  it 
"by  rubbing  a  ridge  inside  the  pronotum  on  a  highly 
specialized,  striate  surface  at  the  base  of  the  scutellum, 
and  therefore  covered  up  when  the  Insect  is  contracted 
in  repose.  A  few  [e.  g.,  some  of  the  Prioninse]  produce  noise 
by  rubbing  the  hind  femora  against  the  edge  of  the  elytra, 
somewhat  after  the  fashion  of  grasshoppers."  The  larvae 
are  white,  or  yellowish,  wood-borers  and  have  powerful 
jaws;  the  body  tapers  slightly  from  the  fore  part  backwards. 
They  are  called  Round-headed  Borers,  in  contrast  with  the 
larvae  of  Buprestidae.  Although  many  of  the  adults  come 
to  light,  the  "good  species"  are  usually  obtained  by  the 
use  of  good  eyes  on  felled  timber  or  by  beating  branches, 
especially  dead  ones,  above  an  upturned  umbrella.  Some 
are  also  to  be  found  under  bark.  Large  numbers,  especi- 
ally of  Lepturini,  are  attracted  in  early  summer  by  flower- 
ing shrubs.  The  three  ^  subfamilies  may  be  separated  as 
follows: 

1.  Pronotum  "margined"  (i.  e.,  sides  flattened  and  thin 
for  almost  the  whole  length)  and  usually  toothed  along  the 
sides ;  body  usually  broad  and  flattened.  Prioninse  (p.  338). 

Pronotum  not  margined;  body  usually  more  or  less 
cj^lindrical 2. 

2.  Front  tibiae  not  grooved;  last  joint  of  maxillary  palpi 
not  sharp  at  tip,  often  more  or  less  triangular 

Cerambycinae  (p.  338). 

Front  tibiae  with  a  more  or  less  distinct  oblique  groove 

on  the  inner  side;  palpi  with    the    last  joint  cylindrical, 

pointed  at  tip Lamiinae    (p.  352). 


^  Craighead,    following    studies    of    larv^,    makes    five 
subfamilies. 

*2  337 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Prioninae 


These  are  among  our  large  beetles,  and  some  tropical 
species  attain  a  length  of  six  inches  or  more.  The  adults 
are  nocturnal. 

1.  Form  elongate;  antennae  ii -jointed,  the  joints  not 
overlapping;  width  of  pronotum  more  than  twice  its  length, 
three  sharp  teeth  on  each  side;  length,  from  i  to  1.7  in.; 
light  chestnut-brown,  shining.  Larvae  in  oak  (and  other?) 
stumps  and  logs Orihosoma  brunneum. 

Form,  stout,  broad;  antennas  (in  our  species)  12-  to 
20-jointed,  the  joints,  especially  in  males,  more  or  less 
overlapping  each  other.  Prionus.  Length  from  .9  to 
2  in. ;  shining  reddish-brown  or  black 2. 

2.  Antennae  with  16  to  18  joints  in  the  female  and  18  to 
20  in  the  male;  pronotum  very  short  and  broad,  its  teeth, 
especially  the  hind  ones,  not  very  distinct 

Prionus  imbricornis. 
Antennae  with  only  12  joints 3. 

3.  Elytra,  combined,  at  base  not  wider  than  the  pronotum ; 
all  joints  of  the  hind  tarsi  densely  pubescent  beneath; 
antennae  of  male  longer  than  the  body,  of  female  about 
half  the  length.  (Plate  LXXXII.)  The  larvae  live  in 
the  roots  of  many  trees  and  shrubs,  including  orchard 
trees  and  small  fruits  such  as  blackberry;  they  are  three 
years   in   reaching  maturity Prionus  laticollis. 

Elytra,  combined,  at  base  wider  than  the  pronotum; 
basal  joint  of  each  hind  tarsus  nearly  smooth.  Middle 
and  Southern  States Prionus  pocularis. 

Cerambycinas 

Quite  a  few  of  the  very  many  species  are  pretty  and 
sure  to  attract  attention, 

1.  Base  of  antennae  not  enveloped  by  the  eyes 3. 

Base  of  antennae  partly  enveloped  by  the  eyes;  head 

inserted  in  the  thorax 8. 

2.  Front  coxae  transverse,  not  prominent;  antennae 
with  second  joint  rather  large,  one- third  or  more  the  length 
of  the  third;  head  inserted  in  the  thorax.  (Division 
Callidioides) 3. 

338 


KEY  TO  THE  LONG-HORNS. 


Front  coxae  conical  (globose  in  Distenia),  prominent; 
second  joint  of  antennae  small;  head  usually  attached  to 
thorax  by  a  rather  distinct  neck,  this  appearance  being 
caused  by  the  head  being  narrowed  behind  the  eyes  and  the 
thorax  narrowed  in  front;  elytra  usually  tapering  behind 
the  middle.     (Division  Lepturoides) 4. 

3.  Second  joint  of  antennas  more  than  one-third  as 
long  as  the  third;  antennas,  densely  punctured  and  pubes- 
cent; scutellum  rounded  behind;  fifth  ventral,  abdominal 
segment  of  the  males  transverse  and  the  sixth  visible, 
fifth  segment  of  females  prolonged  and  the  sixth  invisible. 

Tribe  Asemini  (p.  341). 
Second  joint  of  antennae  not  more  than  one-third  as 
long  as  the  third;  eyes  finely  granulate  (i.  e.,  the  lines  be- 
tween the  facets  are  feebly  impressed)  and  deeply  emargi- 
nate;  pronotum  and  elytra  not  spined;  antennae  of  males 
thicker  at  the  base  than  those  of  females  and  usually  longer 
than  the  body Tribe  Callidiini  (p.  342). 

4.  Front  coxse  globose;  mandibles  chisel-shaped,  not 
fringed  on  the  inner  margin;  pronotum  spined  on  the  sides, 
and  elytra  spined  at  tips;  body  elongate;  head  large; 
eyes  large,  feeble  emarginate;  antennae  long,  tapering, 
first  joint  as  long  as  the  head.  Tribe  Disteniini,  of  which 
only  Distenia  undata  need  be  mentioned.  It  varies  from 
.7  to  I  in.  long;  dark  brown,  densely  clothed  with  short, 
gray  pubescence;  elytra  marked  with  three  serrate  cross- 
bands  of  darker  pubescence.  It  occurs  beneath  the 
bark  of  hickory,  oak,  and  chestnut  trees. 

Front  coxas  conical 5» 

5.  Joints  3  to  5  of  antennae  much  thickened  at  tips; 
mandibles  simple,  not  fringed;  eyes  nearly  rounded, 
suddenly  and  deeply  emarginate.  Tribe  Desmocerini. 
Plate  LXXXI  shows  Desmocerus  palliaius.  Its  larvae  bore 
in  the  stems  of  elder  {Samhucus). 

Joints  3  to  5  of  antennae  normal,  usually  slender; 
mandibles  acute,  fringed  on  the  inner  margin;  elytra  not 
colored  as  above 6. 

6.  Elytra  short,  not  covering  the  wings.  Tribe  Necy- 
dalini,  of  which  only  Necydalis  mellitus  is  likely  to  be  found 
by  users  of  this  book.     The  abdomen,  front  and  middle 

339 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


legs,  and  basal  joint  of  antennae  are  dull  yellow;  elytra 

reddish-brown  or  yellow;  otherwise  black;  .5  to  .9  in.  long. 

Elytra  of  nomial  length .7. 

7.  Front  of  face  nearly  vertical;  neck,  very  short;  first 
joint  of  hind  tarsi  much  longer  than  the  other  joints 
combined.  Tribe  Encyclopini.  In  Encyclops,  the  only 
genus  occurring  in  eastern  United  States,  the  first,  hind- 
tarsal  joint  is  cylindrical.  E.  cosruleus  is  about  .3  in. 
long;  almost  linear;  shiny  blue  or  green. 

Front  of  face  oblique  or  horizontal;  elytra  usually 
tapering  to  the  apex Tribe  Lepturini  (p.  349). 

8.  Second  joint  of  antennas  small,  not  over  one-fourth 
the  length  of  the  third;  front  coxas  not  conical  though 
sometimes  prominent.     (Division  Cerambycoides) 9. 

Second  joint  of  antennse  about  one- third  tlie  length 
of  the  third  joint;  front  cox«  globose,  widely  separated. 
Division  Atimioides.  Rare  with  us.  Atimia  confusa  is 
about  .3  in.  long;  dull  black,  clothed  with  rather  long, 
yellowish  pubescence,  with  irregular,  smooth,  hairless 
spots;  hind  tarsi  with  the  first  joint  equal  to  the  second 
and  third  combined.     On  conifers. 

9.  Eyes  coarsely  granulated  {i.  e.,  the  lines  between  the 
facets  deeply  impressed) 10. 

Eyes  finelyTgranulated 11. 

10.  Front  coxal  cavities  open  behind;  abdomen  normal 
in  both  sexes;  antennae  with  the  second  joint  small;  scutel- 
lum  rounded  behind,  except  in  Chion;  eyes  not  divided, 
though  always  deeply  emarginate Tribe  Cerambycini 

(P-  344)- 

Front  coxal  cavities  angulated,  closed  behind;  first 
segment  of  abdomen  very  long.  Tribe  Obriini.  There 
are  two  genera:  Phyton,  pronotum  much  narrower  at 
base  than  at  apex;  and  Obrium,  pronotum  equally  nar- 
rowed at  base  and  apex.  The  species  are  less  than  .3  in. 
long. 

11.  Elytra  either  only  about  as  long  as  the  pronotum, 
or  elongated  and  awl-shaped.  .Tribe   Stenoptini  (p.  345).' 

Elytra  normal 12. 

12.  Scutellum  either  rounded  behind  or  broadly  tri- 
angular   130 

340 


KEY  TO  THE  LONQ=HORNS. 


Scutellum   acutely   triangular;   front   coxal   cavities 

open  behind;  eyes  finely  granulated 

Tribe  Trachyderini  (p.  345). 

13.  Tibial  spurs  large;  pronotum  never  with  tubercles 
or  spines. 14. 

Tibial  spurs  small;  legs  long  and  slender;  femora  very 
slender  at  base,  strongly  and  suddenly  club-shaped  at 
apex.  Tribe  Rhopalophorini.  Rhopalophora  longipes  is 
about  .3  in.  long;  bluish-black;  pronotum  red,  with  a 
small  obtuse  tubercle  on  each  side. 

14.  Tibae  strongly  ridged;  form  slender;  puncturation 
(pittings)  sparse  and  coarse.  Tribe  Stenosphenini. 
Stenosphenus  notatus,  breeding  in  hickory,  is  black;  prono- 
tum reddish  with  a  central  black  spot;  under  side  of  head 
and  thorax  reddish;  about  .4  in.  long. 

Tibiae  not  ridged;  form  rather  stout;  puncturation 
fine.  Our  species  usually  have  the  elytra  banded  with 
yellow,  or  white,  and  black  pubescence;  eyes  finely  granu- 
lated and  deeply  emarginate,  the  lower  lobe  always 
large Tribe  Clytiiii  (p.  346). 


Asemini.     (See  page  339.) 

1.  Color,  black  or  dark  brown;  form,  cylindrical,  scarcely 
depressed 2. 

Color,  pale  yellowish;  form,  depressed;  length,  about 
.3  in.;  eyes  coarsely  granulated  and  very  deeply  emargi- 
nate. Occurs  under  unloosened  bark  of  dead  poplar,  oak, 
and  other  trees Smodicum  cucujiforme. 

2.  Eyes  not  wholly  divided,  often  deeply  emarginate. ...  3. 
Eyes    divided,    apparently    four    in    number,    rather 

finely  granulated;  length,  about  .5  in,;  dull,  sooty  brown. 
Northern Tetropium  cinfiamopterum. 

3.  Eyes  moderate  in  size,  finely  granulated  and  hairy; 
antennae  finely  pubescent;  length,  .5  in.  or  more;  black. 
Northern Asemum  mcestum. 

Eyes  large,  coarsely  granulated,  not  hairy;  about 
I  in.  long Criocephalus. 

341 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Callidiini.     (See  page  339.) 

1.  Elytra  bluish-black,  with  narrow,  raised,  longitudinal, 
white  lines  on  the  middle;  pronotum  with  very  deep, 
median  groove;  femora  distinctly  club-shaped;  general 
color,  black;  .5  to  .7  in.  long.     Larvae  bore  in  elm 

Physocnemum  hrevilineum. 
Elytra  without  distinct,  raised,  white  lines a. 

2.  Pronotum  very  short,  strongly  rounded  on  the  sides, 
red;  upper  surface  not  shining;  black;  about  .75  in.  long. 

Rhopalopus  sanguinicollis, 
Pronotum  not  very  short,  the  width  not  much  exceed- 
ing the  length;  upper  surface  more  or  less  shining 3. 

3.  Front  coxae  at  least  moderately  separated.  Merium 
(pronotum  with  a  broad,  smooth,  shining  median  space 
on  the  basal  half)  and  Hylotrupes  (pronotum  with  a  narrow 
median  elevation  and  moderate  or  small  ones  on  the  sides). 
H.  ligneus  is  usually  not  over  .5  in.  long;  elytra  yellow 
except  for  apical  third  and  a  circular  spot  on  each,  which 
portions  are,  together  with  the  head  and  pronotum, 
bluish-black.  Breeds  in  cedar.  H.  hajalus  is  about  .75 
in.  long;  brown  to  black,  with  grayish-white  pubescence 
that  may  form  two  irregular  bands  on  the  elytra.  Breeds 
in  pine  and  spruce. 

Front  coxae  touching Phymatodes  and  Callidium. 

Phymatodes  varius  is  black  to  (especially  thorax  and 
basal  part  of  elytra)  reddish-brown;  two  slightly  curved 
crossbars  on  elytra;  about  .3  in.  long.  The  larvae  mine 
the  inner  bark  of  diseased  oaks.  P.  variabilis  (about  .5  in. 
long;  elytra  blue,  or  yellow,  or  blue  with  yellow  margins. 
Larvae  in  oak  bark.)  and  P.  amcenus  (about  .25  in.  long; 
elytra  bluish.  Larvae  in  dead  grape  stems.)  have  the 
pronotum  reddish-yellow.  P.  dimidiatus  has  an  almost 
black  pronotum;  elytra  reddish-brown,  lighter  at  the 
base.  The  larvae  are  "  bark- slippers "  of  cord- wood. 
Callidium  antennatum  (over  .5  in.  long;  surface  rough) 
and  janthinum  (about  .5  in.  long;  surface  shining)  are 
dark  blue.  They  breed  in  conifers.  C.  czreum  is  less  than 
.5  in.  long  and  brownish-yellow.  Its  larvae  mine  the  inner 
bark  of  chestnut. 

342 


Prionus 
loficollis 


Monohommus 
titillQtor 


Elophidion 
villosum 


Tetraopes 
*etrQophlhQlmu5 


t^'^ 


i43 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Cerambycini.     (See  page  340.) 

1.  With  six  cross-bands  of  yellow  pubescence,  two  on 
pronotum  and  four  on  elytra.  West  of  the  Alleghanies. 
Larvag  bore  in  dead  beech  and  maple.   Dryohius  sexfasciatus. 

With  not  more  than  one  yellow  cross-band 2, 

2.  Scutellum  acute,  triangular,  pronotum  with  a  short 
spine  on  each  side;  antennae  of  female  about  the  length 
of  the  body,  of  the  male  longer;  brownish,  with  sparse, 
fine,  gray  pubescence;  each  elytron  with  two  short  spines 
at  apex  and  usually  with  an  oblique,  yellow  blotch  in  front 
of  the  middle;  length  varies  from  .6  to  1.3  in.  Larvae  in 
hickory,   oak,   and   plum Chion  cinctus, 

Scutelltim  rounded  behind 3. 

3.  Each  elytron  with  two  pairs  of  elliptical,  elevated, 
ivory-like  spots  on  each;  pale  brownish-yellow.  Larvae 
bore  in  hickory,  ash,  and  honey-locust 

Eburia  quadrigeminata. 
Elytra  without  pairs  of  ivory-like  spots 4. 

4.  Femora  not  distinctly  club-shaped;  antennal  joints 
and  elytra  with  spines 5. 

Femora  distinctly  club-shaped;  elytra  without  spines 
at  tip.  Tylonotus  himaculatus  (antennae  grooved  on 
the  outer  side;  two  rounded,  yellow  spots  on  each  elytron; 
.5  in.  long.  Larvae  in  ash.)  and  Heterachthes  (antennae 
not  grooved  or  hairy;  less  than  .5  in.  long).  H.  quadri- 
maculatus  is  brownish-yellow  with  pale  spots  (sometimes 
tip  also  pale)  on  each  elytron.  Larvae  in  hickory.  H. 
ebenus  is  dull  black. 

5.  Not  less  than  .75  in.  long 6. 

Usually  less  than  .75  in.  long 7. 

6.  Dark  brown,  with  irregular  spots  of  short,  grayish 
pubescence;  pronotum  without  spines  on  sides.  Occurs 
beneath    the    bark    of    walnut,  hickory,  and    hackberry. 

Romaleum  atomarium. 

Reddish-brown    with    uniform    pubescence    of    the 

same  color;  pronotum  with  a  small  tubercle  each  side  of 

the  median  line.     Larvae  bore  in  oak  and  probably  other 

trees Romaleum  rufulum. ' 

7.  Antennae  and  elytra  with  long  spines;  femora  spinose 
at  tips;  dull  reddish-brown,  irregularly  clothed  with  grayish 

344 


KEY  TO  THE  LONG-HORNS. 


yellow  pubescence;  length,  nearly,  or  quite,  .75  in.     On 

various  deciduous  trees,  also  on  grape 

Elaphidion  mucronatum. 
Antennal  spines  small;  femora  not  spinose  at  tips. 
Elaphidion  unicolor.  Uniform  reddish-brown,  very 
sparsely  pubescent;  pronotum  sparsely  and  irregularly 
punctate;  elytra  with  a  short  spine  on  tip  of  each.  Larvae 
bore  in  twigs  of  red-bud,  plum,  and  (?)  oak.  E.  incertum. 
Dark  reddish-brown,  mottled  with  small  patches  of  grayish- 
brown  pubescence;  prothorax  ahnost  globose,  wider  than 
long,  sides  rounded;  small  elevations,  sometimes  connected, 
on  each  side  of  poUshed  median  line  of  pronotum  ;  each 
elytron  with  two  short  spines  at  tip.  E.  villosum.  (Plate 
LXXXII.)  Dark  brown,  clothed  with  grayish-yellow, 
somewhat  mottled  pubescence;  pronotum  rather  rough 
and  with  coarse,  deep  punctures;  the  outer  of  the  two 
spines  on  the  tip  of  each  elytron  the  longer.  The  larva 
is  the  Pruner.  It  breeds  in  a  large  variety  of  deciduous 
trees,  developing  in  the  heart  of  a  small  shoot  and,  when 
full-grown,  girdling  the  shoot  from  within,  so  that  it  falls 
in  the  first  high  wind.  Pupation  and  hibernation  usually 
occur  in  this  fallen  twig,  but  the  twig  does  not  always  fall. 

Stenoptini.     (See  page  340.) 

Molorchus  himaculatus.  Dull  black,  with  sparse,  long, 
grayish  hairs;  elytra  scarcely  longer  than  the  pronotum,  a 
large,  dull,  yellow  spot  often  nearly  covering  each  elytron; 
antennae  and  legs  reddish-brown;  less  than  .3  in.  long. 
Breeds  in  dead  hickory,  maple,  ash,  dogwood,  red-bud, 
and  walnut. 

Callimoxys  sanguinicoUis.  Dull  black;  pronotum  of 
male  red,  with  narrow,  black,  apical,  and  basal  margins; 
elytTB.  brownish,  elongate  awl-shaped;  femora  swollen; 
hind  legs  yellow,  the  tips  of  the  joints  black. 

Trachyderini.     (See  page  341.) 

This  is  a  large  tribe  in  the  South  and  Southwest,  but 
only  four  northern  species  will  be  mentioned  here. 
I.     Pronotum  not  shining,  its  sides  with  a  spine  or  large 
tubercle;  length  not  less  than  .5  in 2. 

345 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Pronotum  shining,  its  sides  unarmed;  usually  not 
longer  than  .3  in.;  dark  red;  antennae,  legs,  and  often  the 
suture  of  the  elytra  varying  from  dusky  red  to  black. 
Adults  often  abundant  on  flowers Batyle  suturalis. 

2.  Body  pubescent;  black;  each  elytron  with  a  large 
rounded  orange  spot  near  the  base .  . .  Tragidion  coguus. 

Body  not  pubescent 3. 

3.  Black;  each  elytron  with  a  large,  triangular,  scarlet 
humeral    area.     Larvae    probably  in    oak    and    hickory. 

Purpuricenus  humeralis. 

Black ;  front  half  of  elytra  orange  yellow 

Purpuricenus  axillaris. 

Clytini.     (See  page  341.) 

1.  Head  small,  face  short;  process  of  first  ventral  abdomi- 
nal segment  between  the  hind  coxae  rounded 2. 

Head  large,  face  long;  process  between  the  hind  coxae 
acute 7. 

2.  Pronotum  with  three  yellow  crossbands  and  exca- 
vated transversely  at  the  sides  near  the  base 3. 

Pronotum  without  yellow  crossbands,  but  sometimes 
with  yellow,  oblique  bars  on  each  side ;  not  excavated  at 
the  sides 5. 

3.  Second  joint  of  hind  tarsi  without  hairs  at  the  middle; 
antennae  of  male  longer  than  the  body;  velvety  black: 
head,  pronotum,  and  elytra  with  narrow,  yellow  cross- 
bands,  the  third  one  from  the  base  of  the  elytra  W-shaped, 
the  three  behind  it  sinuous;  length  .5  to  .8  in.  Larvae 
bore  in  hickory  and  elm.  Adults  in  spring  and  early 
summer Cyllene  caryce  (also  called  pictus). 

Second  joint  of  hind  tarsi  densely  pubescent;  antennae 
not  longer  than  the  body 4. 

4.  Closely  resembles  C.  carycB.  Larvae  bore  in  black 
locust  {Rohinia).  Adults  in  late  summer  and  fall.  (Plate 
LXXXI) Cyllene  rohinicz. 

Basal  third  of  elytra  orange  yellow,  remainder  black 
except  for  a  3'-ellow  band  behind  the  middle,  and  yellow  tip; 
pronotum  yellow,  with  three  short,  narrow,  black  cross- 
bars.    A  southern  and  western  species Cyllene  decorus. 

5.  Antennae  compressed,  somewhat  serrate;  black,  dense 

346 


KEY  TO  THE  LONQ=HORNS. 


yellow  pubescence  covering  the  greater  part  of  the  head 
and  forming  two  short  oblique  bands  on  each  side  of  the 
pronotum  and  five  on  each  elytron,  the  first  two  of  which 
are  decidedly  oblique  and  the  last  (apical)  one  broad  and 
including  a  dark  spot;  length,  about  i  in.     Larvae  bore 

in  maples  and  are  often  injurious.     Northern 

Plagionotus  speciosus. 
Antennss  thread-like 6. 

6.  Brownish-black,  densely  clothed  with  velvety  pubes- 
cence; each  elytron  usually  with  a  rounded,  yellow  spot  at 
the  base,  a  small  one  near  it  and  the  margin,  a  larger  one 
before  the  middle,  and  two  narrow,  transverse,  sinuous 
bands  on  apical  half;  antennas  one-half  the  length  of  the 
body,  wliich  is  .8  in.,  or  more Calloides  nohilis. 

Not  more  than  .75  in.  long;  black;  head  and  pronotum 
covered  with  grayish  pubescence,  the  latter  with  a  large, 
black  spot  in  the  center  and  a  small,  round  one  on  each 
side;  elytra  marked  with  obscure,  zigzag  bands  of  grayish 
pubescence.     Breeds    in    chestnut,   oak,   and    butternut. 

A  rhopalus  fulmi?7ans. 

7.  Elytra  flat  on  basal  third;  not  less  than  .3  in.  long.  ...  8. 
Elytra  swollen  on  basal  third;  small,  ant-like  species, 

not  over  .4  in.  long 18. 

8.  Front  of  head  with  one  or  more  ridges 9. 

Front  of  head  without  ridges 13. 

9.  Ridges  on  the  front 'of  the  head  reduced  to  an  elongate 
space;    length    usually    not    much    more,    if    any,    than 

.5  in 10- 

Ridges  on  face  V-  or  Y-shaped;  length  usually  not 
much  less,  if  any,  than  .5  in 11. 

10.  Ridge  on  face  divided  or  impressed  longitudinally; 
black;  thorax  with  four  spots  of  yellowish  pubescence; 
el}i;ra  with  the  sutural  line  and  three  oblique  extensions 
from  it  dull  yellow.     Usually  on  black  alder 

Xylotrechus  quadrimaculatus. 

Ridge  on  face  scarcely  divided;  shining  black  beetle, 

with  yellow  margins Xylotrechus  nitidiis. 

11.  A  spine  on  the  outer  angle  of  the  obliquely-cut  apex 
of  each  elytron ;  brownish,  with  white  pubescence.  Usually 
on  dead  pine Xylotrechus  sagittatus. 


347 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


No  distinct  spine  on  the  outer  angle  of  the  obliquely- 
cut  apex 12. 

12.  Black  or  brown;  yellowish  or  whitish  pubescence 
arranged  to  form  variable  markings;  usually  four  such 
markings  on  the  pronotum,  and  three  bands  (the  front 
one  narrow  and  curved)  and  an  apical  spot  on  the  elytra. 

Xylotrechus  colonus. 

Black  or  dark  brown;  pronotum  with  Hght  pubes- 
cence on  front  and  back  margins;  each  elytron  with  a 
narrow  stripe  of  yellow  pubescence  running  from  the 
scutellum  to  about  the  middle  and  then  curving  to  the 
outer  margin,  a  short  line  of  yellow  in  front  of  this  and 

two  behind  it.     Breeds  in  spruce  and  hemlock 

Xylotrechus  undulatus 

13.  P*ronotum  with  short,  transverse  lines  or  ridges ...  14 
Pronotum  without  transverse  ridges 17 

14.  Middle  and  hind  femora  spined  at  apex 15 

Middle  and  hind  femora  not  spined  at  apex;  black; 

whitish  pubescence  on  thorax;  pronotum  with  narrow, 
light,  front  margin;  each  elytron  with  a  white  or  yellow 
marking  which  nearly  forms  a  circle  near  the  base,  a  jagged 
one  just  behind  the  middle,  and  an  oblique  one  near  the 

apex.      Breeds  in  ash,   elm,   and  hickory 

Neoclyius  caprcea. 

15.  Pronotum  with  a  longitudinal,  elevated  ridge; 
antennas  thread-like 16. 

Pronotum  with  a  few  distinct,  transverse  ridges 
arranged  in  a  median  row;  antennae  thickened  towards 
the  apex;  reddish-brown;  elytra  dark  behind  the  first 
band  and  with  four,  nearly  straight,  narrow  crossbars 
of  bright  yellow  pubescence,  the  one  at  the  base  the  least 
distinct.     Breeds  in  a  variety  of  trees  such  as  elm,  maple, 

black  locust,  hickorj%  and  dog- wood 

Neoclytus  erythrocephalus. 

16.  Blackish;  two  vertical  yellow  bands  on  the  front 
of  the  head  and  three  transverse  ones  on  the  pronotum; 
elytra  with  the  base  reddish-brown,  the  scutellum  and 
three  narrow  curved  bands  yellow.  Said  to  breed  in 
hickory,    elm,    and    grape Neoclytus    scutellaris. 

Very  similar  but  the  m.edian  yellow  band  is  lacking 
from  the  pronotum  and  there  is  often  a  red  spot  (not  of 

348 


KEY  TO  THE  LONQ=HORNS. 


hairs,  but  in  the  chitin)  on  each  side.     In  hickory 

Neoclytus  luscus, 

17.  Black  with  the  following  yellow  markings:  a  marginal 
line  on  the  pronotum,  interrupted  at  the  base;  scutellum; 
an  oval,  oblique  spot  on  basal  third  of  each  elytron;  a 
strongly  angulated  band  back  of  this;  and  an  oblique  bar 
back  of  the  middle.  Kas  been  taken  on  hickory,  elm, 
and  oak Clytanihus  ruricola. 

Blackish-brown,  except  reddish  basal  half  of  elytra. 
Each  elytron  with  the  following  markings  of  whitish 
pubescence:  a  narrow,  oblique  line  on  basal  half;  a  long, 
narrow,  curved  band  behind  the  middle;  and  a  spot  on 
the  apex.     Has  been  taken  on  hickory,  grape,  and  oak. 

Clytanthus  alhofasciatus ^ 

18.  Each  elytron  with  an  oblique,  wavy  band;  shining 
black  or  dark  reddish-brown.  Looks  like  an  ant.  Breeds 
in  hickory  and  chestnut  branches,  possibly  in  other  trees. 

Euderces  picipes. 
No  such  band 19. 

19.  Eyes'emarginate;  second  joint  of  antennae  distinctly 
shorter  than  the  fourth,  third  joint  with  a  spine;  black; 
femora  and  basal  three-fifths  of  elytra  reddish-brown,  the 
latter  marked  with  three  narrow,  oblique  lines  of  whitish 
pubescence  and  separated  from  the  black  portion  by  a 
similar  transverse  line.  Bores  in  beech,  linden,  chestnut, 
and  other  trees Cyrtophorus  verrucosus. 

Eyes  not  emarginate;  head  and  pronotum  black; 
elytra  with  markings  of  silvery  hairs.  Has  been  bred 
from  sumac  and  hickory.     Rare ....  Tillomorpha  geminata. 


Lepturini.     (See  page  340.) 

Members  of  this  tribe  may  often  be  found  on  flowers. 

1.  Spurs  of  hind  tibiae  not  terminal  but  at  the  base  of  a 
deep  excavation;  pronotum  tuberculate  at  the  sides. 
Toxotus.  T.  vittiger  has  two  long,  longitudinal,  whitish 
stripes  on  each  elytron.  T.  cylindricollis  is  also  black 
(or  reddish)  but  without  whitish  markings. 

Spurs  of  hind  tibiae  terminal 2. 

2.  First  joint  of  hind  tarsi  with  the  usual  brush  of  hair 

349 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


beneath;  pronotum,  with  rare  exceptions,  distinctly  tuber- 
culate  or  spined  at  the  sides;  head  obHquely  narrowed 

behind  the  eyes 3. 

First  joint  of  hind  tarsi  without  the  brush-like  sole; 
pronotum  usually  broadest  at  the  base,  its  sides  never 
spined  or  tuberculate;  head  constricted  behind  the  eyes. .  .8. 

3.  Antennae  scarcely  reaching  the  base  of  the  elytra; 
pronotum  with  a  sharp  spine  on  each  side;  elytra  with 
longitudinal  raised  ridges;  black,  mottled  with  brown  and 
gray  pubescence;  reddish-brown  spots  on  elytra;  length, 
•5  to  .75  in.  Larvae  under  pine  bark,  making  a  nest  of 
chips Rhagium  lineatum. 

Antennae  longer;  elytra  not  strongly  ridged 4. 

4.  Eyes  globose  and  prominent;  pronotum  with  a  short, 
acute  tubercle  on  each  side 5. 

Eyes  not  prominent;  pronotum  angulated  or  rounded 
on  the  sides;  length,  about  .3  in 6. 

5.  Elytra  uniform  reddish-brown,  somewhat  square-cut 
at  tips.  Bores  in  butternut  and  beech.   Centroderadecolorata. 

Elytra  clay-yellow  with  irregular  brown  stripes  and 
blotches,  the  tips  rounded;  length,  .5  in.     Bores  in  hickory. 

Centrodera  picta. 

6.  Head,  pronotum,  and  under  surface  black;  elytra 
shining  bluish-green;  antennae  and  legs  pale  brownish- 
yellow.     Breeds  in  butternut  and  probably  other  trees. 

Gaurotes  cyanipennis. 
Not  so.     Acmceops.     For  two  species  see 7. 

7.  Stout ;  usually  dull  brownish-yellow ;  pronotum  with  two 
black  spots  and  each  elytron  with  two  longitudinal, 
black  stripes.     Western A.  hivittata. 

Slender;  head,  pronotum,  elytra,  and  under  surface, 
yellow  except  for  the  black  suture,  a  median  stripe,  and 
side   margin   of   each   elytron A.   dire  eta. 

8.  Form  very  slender,  strongly  tapering  behind;  last 
ventral,  abdominal  segment  of  male  deeply  excavated, ...  9. 

Form  less  slender  and  less  tapering  behind;  last 
ventral  segment  not  excavated 12. 

9.  Longer  than  .75  in.;  elytra  strongly  sinuate  on  the 
sides;  chestnut-brown  to  black,  the  elytra  with  paler 
areas.     Breeds  in  ash Bellamira  scalaris. 

Smaller 10. 

350 


KEY  TO  THE  LONa=HORNS. 


10.  Head  and  pronotum  wholly  black;  elytrsL  dull  yellow, 
with  margin  and  suture  blackish ....  Strangalia  acuminata. 

Head  and  pronotum  not  wholly  black ii. 

11.  Elytra  yellowish,  usually  marked  with  black.  Stran- 
galia famelica  (antennae  black)  and  S.  luteicornis  (antennae 
yellow). 

Elytra  wholly  black;  head  and  pronotum  reddish- 
yellov/ Strangalia  hicolor. 

12.  Antennae  with  smooth,  impressed,  pore-bearing 
spaces  near  the  bases  of  the  sixth  or  seventh  and  the 
following  joints.  Typocerus.  T.  iiiguhris  is  all-black. 
The  elytra  of  velutinus  are  reddish-brown  with  four  yellow- 
ish spots  (which  may  be  enlarged  to  form  partial  bands) 
on  each,  and  of  zehratiis  are  black  with  one  or  two 
basal  spots  and  three  bands,  all  yellowish,  on  each 
elytron. 

Antennae  without  such  spaces.  The  large  genus 
Leptura,  of  which  the  following  are  fairly  common 13. 

13.  Pronotum  rather  triangidar  or  bell-shaped,  widest 
at  base 14. 

Pronotum  more  squarish  or  rounded,  usually  con- 
stricted in  front  and  behind,  hind  angles  not  prolonged; 
length,  ,3  to  .5  in 16. 

14.  Hind  angles  of  pronotum  prolonged 15. 

Hind  angles  not  prolonged;  length,  .4  to  .6  in.     L. 

ruhrica  (antennas  ringed  with  yellow;  elytra  reddish; 
pronotum  black;  abdomen  of  male  red,  of  female  black) 
and  proxima  (antennae  not  ringed;  elytra  dull  yellow 
except  at  tips,  which  are  broadly  and  obliquely  marked 
with  black) . 

15.  Over  an  inch  long;  pronotum  black,  with  yellow 
pubescence;  elytra  red,  with  black  tips.  .  .L.  emarginata. 

About  .5  in.,  or  less,  long.  L.  lineola  (narrow;  elytra 
decidedly  narrowed  behind,  yellow,  with  black  sutural, 
median,  and  marginal  stripes,  which  may  be  broken)  and 
nitens  (pronotum  black,  with  yellow  pubescence,  much 
rounded  in  front  of  middle;  elytra  black  with  four  golden 
crossbars). 

16.  Pronotum  scarcely  narrowed  in  front  and  not  con- 
stricted behind;  black;  the  elytra  sometimes  dull  yellow 
or  with  the  tip  alone  dark L.  mutabilis. 

351 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS, 


Pronotum  much  narrowed  in  front  but  only  feebly 
so  at  base;  elytra  protuberant  at  base.  L.  vittata  (head 
prolonged  behind  the  eyes;  shining  black  but  each  elytron 
with  a  yellow  stripe,  rarely  wholly  black)  and  puhera 
(head  not  prolonged;  entirely  black). 

Lamiin^ 

A.dultsof  this  subfamily  (see  p.  337)  are,  as  a  rule,  not  as 
brightly  colored  as  those  of  the  preceding  one,  nor  are 
they  as  active  by  day  as  some  of  their  relatives.  The 
larvae  differ  from  the  remainder  of  the  Cerambycidae  in  that 
they  have  no  legs.  Those  with  elytra  about  half  the 
length  of  the  abdomen,  and  front  tibia  not  grooved,  belong 
to  the  tribe  Methini,  which  some  authors  place  in  the 
Cerambycinas. 

1.  Elytra  about  as  long  as  the  abdomen  and  with  a 
spine  or  protuberance  near  the  scutellimi;  rarely  more 
than  .25  in.  long 2. 

Elytra  about  as  long  as  the  abdomen  but  without 
such  a  spine  or  protuberance ;  usually  at  least  .25  in.  long .  3. 

2.  Frontal  coxal  cavities  rounded.  Tribe  Cyrtinini. 
Cyrtinus  pygmcBus  is  dark  brown;  antennae  ringed  with 
yellow;  elytra  with  a  transverse  blotch  of  white  pubescence 
before  the  middle.  It  lives  on  oak,  hickory,  locust,  and 
box  elder. 

Frontal  cavities  angulated.  Tribe  Psenocerini.  Pseno- 
cerus  supernotatus  is  reddish-brown  or  blackish;  scutellum, 
a  narrow  oblique  band  about  the  middle  of  the  elytra, 
and  a  wider  curved  band,  not  reaching  the  suture,  on  apical 
third,  white.  Larvae  in  stems  of  currant,  gooseberry, 
grape,  and  sometimes  in  apple  twigs. 

3.  First  joint  of  the  antennas  with  a  scar-Uke  structure  near 
the  tip  (except  in  Dorcaschema) ;  body  elongate,  nearly 
cylindrical;  antennae  as  long  as,  in  males  much  longer  than, 
the  body;  mostly  large  species Tribe  Monohammini. 

(p.  353.) 

First    joint    of    the    antennae    without    the    scar-like 

structure 4. 

4.  Tarsal  claws  (at  least  those  on  the  front  legs)  arising 
at  opposite  sides  of  the  joint  and  separating  widely 5. 

352 


KEY  TO  THE  LONQ-HORNS. 


Tarsal  claws  spreading  only  slightly  from  a  common 
base 8. 

5.  Front  coxal  cavities  rounded;  middle  coxal  cavities 
closed  or  nearly  so;  body  usually  broad;  antennae  usually 
very  long  in  males Tribe  Acanthoderini  (p.  355). 

Front  coxal  cavities  angulate ;  middle  cavities  open. .  .  6. 

6.  Tarsal  claws  simple  (except  the  outer  one  of  the  front 
and  middle  tarsi  in  some  males  of  Saperda) 7. 

Tarsal  claws  cleft  or  with  appendages 

Tribe  Phytoeciini  (p.  361). 

7.  Small,  flattened  species;  pronotum  with  a  spine  or 
tubercle  on  the  sides Tribe  Pogonocherini  (p.  358) . 

Rather  large,  cylindrical  species;  pronotum  without 
spines   or   tubercles Tribe   Saperdini    (p.  359). 

8.  Front  of  face  large  and  flat;  front  coxas  angulated. 
Tribe  Onciderini.  Oncideres  ci?igulata  is  about  .6  in.  long; 
antennae  of  male  longer  than  the  body,  of  female  about  as 
long ;  general  color,  smoky  or  reddish-brown  to  clay-yellow, 
almost  always  lighter  in  a  broad  band  across  the  elytra; 
usually  three  small  black  dots  in  a  cross-row  on  the  prono- 
tum. The  female  lays  her  eggs  in  twigs  of  hickory 
(especially),  apple,  pear,  plum,  elm,  linden,  and  other 
trees;  then  chews  a  girdle  around  the  twig  below  the  eggs. 
The  twig  dies  and,  broken  off  by  the  wind,  falls  to  the 
ground  where  the  larvae  mature.  Adults  are  somewhat 
abundant  in  August  and  September. 

Front  of  face  bent  in;  form  very  slender  and  elongate. 
Tribe  Hippopsini.  Hippopsis  lemniscata  is  about  .5  in. 
long;  dark  reddish-brown;  pronotum  with  two  whitish 
lines  on  each  side;  each  elytron  with  three  whitish  lines; 
antennas  pale  brown,  darker  at  bases,  m.ore  than  twice  as 
long  as  the  body,  fringed  with  hairs  beneath.  Breeds 
in  stems  of  ragweed  {Ambrosia)  and  in  other  herbaceous 
plants. 

Monohammini.     (See  page  352.) 

I.     Legs,  especially  the  front  ones  of  males,   relatively 

long 2. 

Legs  not  especially  long  and  all  about  equal ;  pronotum 
with  a  spine  on  each  side 8. 

23  353 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


2.  Pronotum  with  spines  on  the  sides 3, 

Pronotum  without  spines 5, 

3.  The  sutural  angle  of  elytra  acute  or  projecting  as  a 
short  spine;  brownish,  the  elytra  mottled  with  gray; 
antennas  of  male  sometimes  four  and  a  half  times  the 
length  of  the  body;  Plate  LXXXII.  The  variety  caro- 
linensis  is  paler  and  not  much  over  half  as  long.  Breeds 
in  pine Monohammus  titillator. 

The  sutural  angle  not  prolonged 4. 

4.  Black,  distinctly  bronzed,  the  elytra  with  very  small 
or  no  patches  of  white  and  brown  pubescence;  length  .6 
to  I.I  in.     Breeds  in  pine Monohammus  scutellatus. 

Brown;  elytra  sparsely  mottled  with  small  patches 
of  gray  and  brown  pubescence;  length  about  1.2  in.  Larvae 
in  the  inner  bark  and  sapwood  of  dead  and  dying  pines, 

spruces,  and  balsams 

Monohammus  notatus  (also  called  confusor). 

5.  Elytra  rounded  at  the  tip ;  black  or  grayish-brown. ...  6. 
Elytra   pointed   at   the   tip;   black,    densely   clothed 

with  uniform  ash-gray  pubescence;  length,  .3  to  .5  in. 
Breeds  in  walnut,  mulberry,  osage-orange,  and  hickory. 

Hetozmis  cinerea. 

6.  Thorax  cylindrical,  longer  than  wide;  brown  with 
grayish  pubescence 7. 

Prothorax  slightly  narrowed  behind  the  middle, 
nearly  as  wide  as  long ;  uniform  dull  black ;  length,  .3  to  .4 
in.     Breeds   in   hickory Dorcaschema   nigrum. 

7.  Pronotum  transversely  wrinkled,  indistinctly  punc- 
tured; length,  .6  to  .9  in.  Breeds  in  mulberry  and 
osage-orange Dorcaschema  wildii. 

Pronotum  not  wrinkled,  distinctly  punctured;  length, 

.3  to  .5  in.     Breeds  in  mulberry  and  osage-orange 

Dorcaschema  alter natum, 

8.  Surface  brownish;  antennas  of  male  not  more  than 
a  fourth  longer  than  the   body 9. 

Shining  black,  pubescence  whitish;  elytra  coarsely 
punctured  and  each  with  a  small,  black  spot  behind  the 
middle ;  antennae  of  male  about  twice  the  length  of  the  body, 

which  is  about  .4  in.     Breeds  in  oak  and  hickory 

Goes  oculata. 


354 


KEY  TO  THE  LONQ-HORNS. 


9.  Elytra  with  a  conspicuous  space  on  the  apical  half 
which  is  not  pubescent 10. 

Elytra  without  a  conspicuous  bare  space  on  the  apical 
half;  nearly  an  inch  long 12. 

10.  Length  about  an  inch 11. 

Length  about  .5  in.;  brown;  head,  pronotum,  and  last 

third  of  elytra  with  reddish-yellow  pubescence,  basal  part 
of  elytra  mottled  with  gra3'ish  pubescence.  Breeds  in 
oak,  probably  also  in  chestnut  and  hickory .  ,  .  Goes  dehilis. 

11.  Pubescence  white.  Breeds  in  hickory,  oak,  and 
possibly  other  trees Goes  tigrina. 

Pubescence  dark  brown,  silvery,  and  reddish-yellow; 
there  is  a  broad,  transverse,  Hghter  band  across  the 
elytra  and  the  tips  of  these  have  golden  pubescence. 
Breeds  in  hickory Goes  pulchra. 

12.  General  pubescence  brownish;  elytra  with  small 
spots  of  yellowish  hairs  arranged  in  irregular  rows.  Breeds 
oak Goes  tesselata. 

General  pubescence  grayish  or  whitish;  elytra  in- 
distinctly crossbarred  at  base,  and  again  behind  the 
middle,  with  pale-brown  pubescence;  scutellum  sometimes 
clay-yellow.  Apparently  breeds  in  elm,  ironwood,  beech, 
and   oak Goes  pulverulenta. 

Acanthoderini.     (See  page  353.) 

1.  Basal  joint  of  antennae  club-shaped;  pronotum  with 
dorsal  tubercles  and  a  large,  acute  spine  near  the  middle 
of  each  side;  about  .5  in.  long 2. 

Basal  joint  of  antennae  cylindrical;  spines  on  sides  of 
pronotum,  if  present,  behind  the  middle 3. 

2.  Dark  brown,  with  yellowish-brown  pubescence;  each 
elytron  with  a  large,  wavy,  white  crossbar  near  the  middle 
and  a  row  of  small  alternate  brown  and  white  spots  along 
the  suture.  Larvae  live  in  oak,  hickory',  beech,  and 
hackberry Acanthoderes  quadrigihhus. 

Dark  brown,  with  yellowish  and  gray  pubescence  in 
about  equal  proportions,  the  gray  on  elytra  in  three 
obscure,  oblique,  nearly  parallel  bands;  an  indistinct, 
M-shaped,  black  mark  behind  the  middle  of  each  elytron. 
On  poplar  and  hickory Acanthoderes  decipiens. 

355  - 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


3.  Females  with  an  elongated  ovipositor.  This  is  a 
very  unsatisfactory  sort  of  a  character  to  have  in  a  key, 
but  I  know  of  no  better.  Acanthocinus  has  no  erect  hairs 
in  the  pubescence  above;  the  antennae  are  very  long,  with 
at  least  joints  3  and  4  densely  fringed  beneath  with  short 
hairs.  A.  ohsoletus  is  dull  yellowish  with  small  blotches 
and  three  undulated  crossbars  on  elytra;  length,  .4  to 
.6  in.  Ceratographis  (mesosternum  narrow)  and  Graphi- 
surus  (mesosternum  broad)  have  erect  hairs.  G.  fasciatus 
occurs  under  the  bark  of  deciduous  trees.  It  is  grayish, 
sprinkled  with  black  spots  and  usually  having  two  larger 
blotches  back  of  the  middle  of  each  elytron;  .3  to  .6  in. 
long. 

Females  without  elongated  ovipositor;  except  as  noted, 
usually  not  over  .3  in.  long 4. 

4.  Pronotum  distinctly  angulate,  or  more  frequently 
with  acute  tubercles  or  short  spines  behind  the  middle. . .  10. 

Pronotum  only  feebly  tuberculate  or  angulate  at  the 
sides  a  little  behind  the  middle 5. 

5.  Elytra  with  small,  tubercular  elevations,  each  bearing 
on  its  summit  short,  black,  scale-like  hairs 6. 

Elytra  without  such  structures;  .2  to  .4  in.  long 9. 

6.  Pronotimi  densely  punctured;  elytra  with  densely 
placed,  coarse,  deep  punctures;  brownish,  irregularly 
mottled  with  grayish  pubescence;  each  elytron  with  an 
elongate,  dark  spot  behind  the  base,  another  (sometimes 
becoming  a  bar)  behind  the  middle,  and  a  third  near  the 
apex.     Breeds   in   pine Leptostylus  sexguttatus. 

Pronotum  not  densely  punctured;  elytral  punctures 
not  closely  placed,  often  inconspicuous  or  concealed 7. 

7.  Surface  of  pronotum  not  tuberculate,  regularly 
punctured 8. 

Surface  of  pronotum  more  or  less  tuberculate,  the 
punctures  irregularly  placed;  blackish-brown  with  grayish 
pubescence;  elytra  with  a  whitish  band  behind  the  middle, 
this  band  narrowing  toward  the  sides  and  edged  with  a 
black  line  behind  which  the  surface  is  smoky  brown; 
joints  of  basal  half  of  antennae  spotted,  those  of  apical  half 
ringed  at  tips  with  brown.  Larvae  under  the  bark  of 
diseased  or  recently  cut  sycamore,  oak,  apple,  and  other 
trees Leptostylus  aculiferus. 

356 


KEY  TO  THE  LONG=HORNS. 


8.  Dull  brownish-yellow;  sides  of  pronotum  and  of 
base  of  elytra  black;  elytra  very  indistinctly  punctured, 
especially  at  the  apex,   and  having  an  angulate,   white 

band  behind  the  middle.     Breeds  in  hickory 

Leptostylus  biustus. 

Brownish,  with  very  fine,  dark  gray  pubescence; 
elytra  distinctly  punctured  over  the  entire  surface,  the  tips 
slightly  prolonged,  an  acutely  angulate,  oblique,  white 
band  behind  the  middle.     Breeds  in  oak  and  box  elder. 

Leptostylus  parvus, 
g.  Brownish;  pronotum  with  whitish  pubescence  forming 
a  broad  stripe  on  each  side,  banded  within  by  a  narrow, 
blackish  stripe  formed  by  a  row  of  elongate,  bare  tubercles; 
each  elytron  with  a  broad,  irregular,  white  blotch  behind 
the  middle  and  with  six  lines  of  minute,  black  spots.  Breeds 
in   butternut,    walnut,   hickory,  beech,  and   other  twigs. 

Leptostylus  macula. 

Dull  clay-yellow;  elytra  sprinkled  with  minute, 
black  spots  and  irregular  patches  of  dark  and  gray. 
Breeds  in  chestnut Leptostylus  collaris. 

10.  Antennae  without  fringed  hairs  beneath;  first  joint 
of  hind  tarsi  as  long  as  the  next  two 1 1. 

Antennas  distinctly  fringed  beneath  with  hairs; 
first  joint  of  hind  tarsi  as  long  as  the  next  three 13. 

11.  Form  cylindrical;  elytra  with  erect  hairs,  which 
may  be  seen  when  viewed  from  the  side;  prostrate  ash- 
gray  hairs  cover  the  black  color;  an  acute  spine  on  each 
side  of  pronotum  near  the  base;  .3  to  .4  in.  long.  Breeds 
in  ragweed  {Ambrosia),  the  larvas  hibernating  in  the 
stems Dectes  spiyiosus. 

Form  somewhat  flattened;  elytra  without  erect 
hairs 12. 

12.  Purplish-brown,  mottled  with  black;  elytra  with 
numerous,  sm.all,  irregular,  black  spots  and  a  dark  blotch, 
bordered  behind  by  gray,  back  of  the  middle;  .3  to  .5  in. 
long.  Breeds  under  the  bark  of  honey-locust  and  box- 
elder Liopus  variegatus. 

Usually  dull  reddish-brown  with  sparse,  grayish 
pubescence;  elytra  usually  with  four  rows  of  small,  black 
dots  and  with  an  acute-angular,  black  band  behind  the 
middle;    pronotum    with    three,    small,    blackish    spots. 

357 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Breeds  in  sumac,  apple,  hickory,  and  locust .  Liopus  alpha. 

Much  like  alpha  but  the  oblique  band  on  each  elytron 
(making  the  acute  angle  when  the  elytra  are  closed)  is 
replaced  by  an  obscure  band  of  gray.  Breeds  in  dog- 
wood (Cornus)  and  plum Liopus  punctatus. 

13.  Each  elytron  with  a  distinct  ridge  on  the  outer  side. 
Hyperplatys,  of  which  aspersus  is  our  common  species.  It  is 
reddish-brown,  with  grayish  pubescence;  pronotum  with 
four  black  dots  in  a  transverse  row;  each  elytron  with 
three  irregular  rows  of  similar  dots  and  usually  a  large, 
black  blotch  behind  the  middle. 

Elytra  without  a  ridge  on  the  outer  side.  Lepturges, 
of  which  we  have  several  rather  variable  species.  The 
spines  on  the  sides  of  the  pronotum  of  symmetricus  are 
rather  broad  and  very  close  to  the  base.  In  the  others 
they  are  more  slender  and  acute,  not  so  close  to  the  base 
and  the  tips  are  recurved.  The  crossbar  on  the  elytra 
of  signatus  is  interrupted  at  the  suture;  in  querci  (apex 
of  elytra  not  black ;  crossbar  angular)  and  in  facetus  (apex 
black;  bar  transverse)  it  is  broad  and  complete. 

Pogonocherini.     (See  page  353.) 

These  beetles  usually  have  long,  erect  hairs,  in  additioii 
to  the  ordinary  pubescence.  The  antennae  are  about  the 
length  of  the  body,  the  joints  progressively  shorter  toward 
the  tip.     The  following  species  are  .25  to  .5  in.  long. 

1.  Femora  club-shaped;  vertex  of  head  concave;  antenna 
tubercles  prominent 4. 

Femora  not  club-shaped;  vertex  flat  or  convex;  anten- 
nal  tubercles  not  prominent;  eyes  coarsely  granulated, 
lower  lobe  as  wide  as  long.     Eupogonius 2. 

2.  Spine  on  side  of  thorax  acute,  well-marked 3. 

Spine  on  side  of  thorax  obtuse,  small;  black,  with  a 

broad  line  of  yellowish  pubescence  on*  each  side  of 
pronotum.     On  elm  and  linden E.  suharmatus. 

3.  The  puncturation  of  elytra  feeble,  almost  obsolete 
near  apex;  pubescence  ash-gray  or  yellowish,  forming 
more  or  less  transverse  nettings.  Has  been  bred  from 
apple  twigs  but  is  said  to  occur  also  on  pine.  E.  tomentosus. 

The  puncturation  coarse,  gradually  finer,  but  distinct, 

358 


KEY  TO  THE  LONQ=HORNS. 


at  tip ;  pale  yellow  pubescence  arranged  in  irregular,  small 
patches.  Breeds  in  dog-wood,  hickory,  walnut,  pine, 
and  perhaps  other  trees E.  vestitus. 

4.  Lower  lobe  of  eyes  elongate;  spines  on  sides  of  prono- 
turn  large,  median;  pubescence  mottled,  gray  and  black, 
mixed  with  short,  scattered  hairs  on  elytra.  Breeds  in  dry 
twigs  of  beech  and  linden Hoplosia  nubila. 

Lower  lobe  of  eyes  as  wide  as  long,  squarish  or  some- 
what triangular 5. 

5.  Pronotum  with  spines  on  sides;  black,  elytra  varie- 
gated with  dull  brownish-yellow,  and  with  a  broad,  oblique 
band  of  white  pubescence.  Beneath  bark  of  dead  pine, 
also  on  pear  and  willow Pogonocherus  mixius. 

Pronotum  with  feebly  rounded  sides;  pale  grayish- 
brown;  elytra  with  a  narrow,  curved,  black  band  on  basal 
third.  Breeds  in  red-bud,  hickory,  and  probably  other 
trees Ecyrus  dasycerus. 

Saperdini.     (See  page  353.) 

Saperda  is  our  only  genus.  S.  Candida  is  shown  in 
Plate  LXXXI.  The  larva  is  known  as  the  Round-headed 
Apple-borer  (see  p.  310)  but  it  also  lives  in  quince,  Cratcegus, 
and  Amelanchier.  The  larvae  usually  work  in  the  base  of 
the  trunk  and  in  the  large  roots,  more  rarely  in  the  large 
limbs.  Their  presence  may  often  be  detected  by  piles 
of  "saw-dust"  pushed  out  of  the  burrow  through  an  open- 
ing in  the  bark.  From  egg  to  adult  takes  three  years. 
Pupation  occurs  in  the  burrow.  The  adult,  in  emerging, 
makes  a  hole  in  the  bark  as  big  around  as  a  lead  pencil. 
Adults  emerge  throughout  the  season,  starting  as  early  as 
April. 

Two  more  of  our  species  have  complete,  longitudinal 
stripes  on  the  elytra:  puncticoUis  (two  pairs  of  black  dots 
on  top  of  the  yellow. pronotum  and  one  dot  on  each  side) 
and  lateralis  (pronotum  dark,  with  yellowish  side-stripes). 
The  latter  breeds  in  hickory  and  some  specimens  (variety 
connecta)  lack  the  narrow,  yellow  sutural  line  but  have 
developed  oblique  crossbars.  Virginia  creeper  is  the  food- 
plant  of  puncticoUis. 

S.  concolor  is  about  .5  in.  long  and  evenly  clothed  with 

359 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


fine,  gray  pubescence.  Its  larvas  make  galls  in  poplar 
and  willow  stems.  The  male  discoidea  also  has  unmarked 
elytra;  they  are  dark;  there  are  light  grayish  lines  on  the 
pronotum  and  the  underside  is  silvery;  legs  reddish. 
The  female  is  yellow  on  the  head,  pronotum,  scutellum,  a 
crescentic  bar  in  the  middle  of  each  elytron,  and  a  spot  in 
front  and  behind  each  of  these.  It  breeds  in  hickory  and 
butternut. 

S.  vestiia,  the  Linden-borer,  is  olive-yellow  but  each 
elytron  has  three  small,  black  dots.  Large  specimens  are 
an  inch  long. 

Our  largest  species  is  calcarata,  the  Poplar-  and  Cotton- 
wood-borer.  It  is  usually  at  least  an  inch  long;  dense, 
gray  pubescence,  with  the  front  of  the  head,  three  stripes 
on  the  pronotum,  the  scutellum,  and  numerous  lines  and 
blotches  on  the  elytra,  orange-yellow. 

5.  ohliqua  (reddish,  with  lighter,  oblique  markings  on 
the  elytra,  which  are  spined  at  the  tip;  .6  to  .8  in.  long) 
and  mutica  (black,  with  light  markings;  elytra  not  spined; 
•4  to  .6  in.  long)  have  distinct  color-rings  on  their  antennae. 
The  former  breeds  in  alder;  the  latter,  more  western,  in 
willow. 

5.  cretata  is  a  fairly  common  apple-borer,  especially 
in  the  Middle  West.  It  is  brown,  with  two  large,  white 
spots  on  each  elytron  and  white  stripes  on  the  sides  of  the 
pronotum;  length,  .5  to  .8  in.  5".  fayi  is  rarely  .5  in.  long; 
darker  and  more  slender  than  cretata;  the  elytral  spots 
narrow,  and  near  the  suture,  and  an  additional  small  spot 
at  the  base.  Both  make  gall-like  swellings  in  stems  of 
CratCBgus. 

S.  tridentata,  the  Elm -borer,  is  grayish-black;  there 
is  an  orange  stripe  on  each  side  of  the  pronotum;  each 
elytron  has  a  narrow  orange  stripe  near  the  margin  and 
three  bands,  of  which  the  last  two  are  quite  oblique  and 
usually  meet  the  corresponding  ones  on  the  opposite  side; 
the  front  of  head  is  ven,-  flat;  .4  to  .6  in.  long.  S.  imitans 
resembles  it  but  the  elytra  are  rounded  at  their  apices, 
instead  of  being  somewhat  truncate;  the  elytral  markings 
are  narrower,  yellower,  and  the  hind  band  is  not  distinctly 
oblique. 


\6o 


KEY  TO  THE  LONG-HORNS, 


Phjrtoeciini.     (See  page  353.) 

1.  Each  eye  not  divided  but  the  outline  deeply  indented; 
thorax  cylindrical 2. 

Each  eye  completely  divided  so  that  there  appear  to 
be  four  eyes ;  thorax  dilated  or  tuberculate  on  the  sides ...  9. 

2.  Antennae  without  hairy  pile 3. 

Antennae  with  thick,  long  hairs;  black,  feebly  shining; 

top  of  head,  a  stripe  on  each  side  of  the  pronotum,  and  often 

the  margins  of  the  elytra,  yellowish;  .3  in.  long 

Amphionycha  fiammata. 

3.  Nearly  imiform  gray  above;  tarsal  claws  feebly 
toothed  or  cleft.     Breed  in  stems  of  herbs 

Alecas,  usually  inornala. 

Not  imiform  gray  above;  tarsal  claws  broadly  toothed; 

.3  to  .7  in.  long.     Oherea 4. 

4.  Pronotum  with  small,  rounded,  black  elevations  or 
callosities 5. 

Pronotum  without  callosities 8. 

5.  Pronotimi  with  four  callosities;  usually  pale,  dull 
yellow;  elytra,  antennae,  and  tarsi  often  nearly  black. 
Breeds  in  living  twigs  of  cotton- wood 0.  schaumii. 

Pronotum  with  two  callosities,  and  often  a  third  spot, 
black.  There  are  several  named  color-varieties  of  each 
of  the  following  species 6. 

6.  Tips  of  elytra  rounded;  body,  below,  and  femora 
entirely  red;  head  and  thorax  usually  red,  rarely  more  or 
less  black ;  two  rounded,  black  spots  on  middle  of  pronotiun ; 
elytra    black.      Probably    breeds    in    blackberry    stems. 

0.  ocellata. 
Tips  of  elytra  rather  square-cut 7. 

7.  Shining  black  except  the  pronotum,  which  is  yellow 
with  two,  or  three,  black  spots.  Breeds  in  the  canes  of 
raspberry    and    blackberry 0.    himaculata. 

Typically,  the  body,  beneath,  is  largely  yellow  but 
it  is  sometimes  wholly  black;  pronotum  yellow  with  three 
black  spots;  each  elytron  with  a  wide,  dull  yellow  stripe 
bordered  with  blackish.  Breeds  in  cottonwood  and 
blackberry 0.  tripunctata. 

8.  Thorax  pale  reddish-j'-ellow;  antennae,  elytra,  tibiae, 
and  tarsi,  nearly  black;  pronotum  without  black  spots; 

361 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


elytra  rather  densely  clothed  with  gray  pubescence.  On 
sumac  and  sassafras 0.  ruficoUis, 

Pale,   dull  yellow  with  a  dark  brown  elytral  stripe 

on  each  side 0.  gracilis, 

9.  Elytra  black;  head  and  pronotum  red,  the  latter  with  a 
black  spot.  On  alder,  Tetrops  monostigma  (elytra  with 
black  hairs ;  western)  and  T.  canescens  (elytra  with  grayish 
hairs;  eastern). 

Elytra  red  with  black  spots;  head  and  pronotum  red. 
Tetraopes,  of  which  the  following  are  the  more  common 
species.  T.  canteriator:  pronotum  with  four  round,  black 
spots;  black  areas  on  elytra  form,  when  elytra  are  closed, 
a  heart-shaped  space  back  of  the  middle;  apex  of  elytra 
also  black;  .3  to  .5  in.  long.  T.  tetraophthalmus:  pronotum 
with  four  black  spots  near  the  middle  and  sometimes  a 
blotch  in  front  and  behind;  see  Plate  LXXXII.  T. 
femoratus:  a  western  species,  resembles  tetraophthalmus^ 
but  the  apex  and  base  of  each  joint  of  antennae  are  nar- 
rowly ringed  with  gray;  .5  in.,  or  more,  long.  They  are 
usually  found  late  in  summer  on  milkweed,  in  the  stems 
and  roots  of  which  they  breed.  They  stridulate  loudly. 
The  extent  of  the  black  markings  varies  somewhat. 

Chrysomelid^ 

The  Chrysomelidae  of  the  United  States  are  never  more 
than  moderately  long,  as  beetles  go;  their  antennas  are 
not  very  long,  and  their  bodies  are  often  chunky.  Nearly  a 
thousand  species  are  known  from  North  America,  about  a 
twentieth  of  the  number  known  from  the  rest  of  the  world. 
One  way  of  looking  at  the  food  habits  of  beetles  is  that 
adopted  by  the  celebrated  Coleopterists,  LeConte  and 
Horn:  "As  the  function  of  the  Cerambycidae  is  to  hold 
the  vegetable  world  in  check  by  destroying  woody  fiber, 
the  Bruchidae  effect  a  similar  result  by  attacking  the  seeds 
and  the  Chrysomelidas  by  destroying  the  leaves."  The 
potato-grower  would  have  to  be  a  philosopher  in  order  to 
look  at  the  Chr3'somelid  Leptinotarsa  in  that  way.  Not 
all  Chrysomelidae  are  leaf-eaters,  however,  as  will  be  pointed 
out  in  the  course  of  the  discussion.  No  attempt  will  be 
made  to  enable  the  reader  to  identify  a  large  proportion 

362 


LEAF-EATING  BEETLES. 


of  the  species  he  may  find,  as  was  done  with  the  Ceramby- 
cidae.  This  is  partly  because  of  technical  difficulties, 
including  the  large  number  of  species,  and  partly  because 
many  of  the  species  are  small  and  not  usually  noticed. 
All  of  them  are  diurnal. 

The  following  hints  may  be  useful.  If  the  head  is 
constricted  or  neck-like  behind  the  eyes,  and  the  prothorax 
is  narrower  than  the  combined  elytra,  the  specimen  belongs 
to  one  of  the  following  tribes:  Donaciini,  Sagrini,  or 
Criocerini,  If  the  pronotum  and  el3'tra  have  broad, 
expanded  margins,  the  head  concealed  from  above,  and 
the  outline  of  the  body  ellipitical  or  nearly  circular,  see 
Cassidini  (p.  376).  If  the  beetle  is  wedge-shaped,  broad, 
and  square-cut  behind,  especially  if  the  elytra  are  pitted 
or  hav^e  a  net- work  surface,  see  Hispini  (p.  375).  If  the 
hind  femora  are  thickened,  fitting  the  beetle  for  jumping, 
and  the  antennas  are  rather  close  together  at  the  base,  see 
Halticini  (p.  372).  As  for  the  rest,  the  majority  of  those 
usually  noticed  are  either  Chrysomelini  (antennas  usually 
further  separated  at  the  bases  than  the  length  of  the  first 
joint;  front  coxae  transverse  and  widely  separated;  third 
tarsal  joint  rarely  indented;  see  p.  368)  or  Galerucini 
(antennee  rather  close  together  at  base,  inserted  on  the 
front;  front  coxae  conical  and  prominent;  see  p.  370). 

Donaciini 

In  addition  to  the  characters  given  above,  this  tribe  may 
be  recognized  by  the  fact  that  the  first  ventral,  abdomi- 
nal segment  is  about  as  long  as  all  the  others  combined. 
They  look  very  much  like  certain  Cerambycidae.  Their 
larvae  live  on  the  outside  of  the  submerged  roots  of  water- 
lilies,  skunk-cabbage,  pickerel-weed,  sedges,  and  other 
aquatic  or  semi-aquatic  plants.  They  pupate  in  cocoons,  a 
number  of  which  are  often  fastened  in  a  row  to  the  stems 
or  roots  of  their  food  plants.  The  adults  of  Donacia  are 
commonly  seen  on  the  leaves  of  water  lilies  and  other 
aquatic  plants  in  early  summer,  and  fly  from  leaf  to  leaf 
when  disturbed.  The  color  is  usually  more  or  less  metallic 
greenish,  bronze,  or  purple;  they  are  coated  beneath  Vvith 
a  satiny  pile  of  fine  hair.     Donacia  has  numerous  species 

363 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


all  of  which  have  the  tips  of  the  elytra  simple,  and  the 
tarsi  dilated,  spongy  beneath.  With  the  exception  of  this 
genus,  the  Northeast  has  only  Hcemonia  nigricornis, 
which  has  narrow  tarsi  and  a  distinct  spine  at  the  outer 
angle  of  each  elytron.  Adults  of  Donacia  rarely  enter  the 
water,  except  to  lay  eggs,  but  those  of  Hoemonia  are  more 
aquatic. 

Sagrini 

In  addition  to  the  characters  given  above,  members  of 
this  tribe  may  be  recognized  by  their  first  ventral,  abdomi- 
nal segment  being  not  much  longer,  if  any,  than  the  two 
following ;  tarsal  claws  cleft  or  toothed  and  elytral  punctures 
irregular  (not  in  rows).  Our  only  common  species  is 
Orsodacna  atra.  The  sides  of  its  pronotum  are  rounded 
and  have  neither  tooth  nor  tubercle — in  distinction  from 
Zeugophora  (outline  of  eyes  indented)  and  Syneta  (outline 
of  eyes  not  indented).  Its  color  is  so  variable  that  seven 
or  more  named  varieties  are  recognized.  It  may  be 
practically  all  black,  or  the  pronotum  and  elytra  may  be 
reddish  or  yellowish,  variously  spotted  or  striped  with 
black.  It  is  about  .25  in.  long  and  is  often  abundant  on 
willow  and  other  very  early  blossoms. 

Criocerini 

Members  of  this  tribe  may  be  distinguished  from  the 
Sagrini  by  their  simple  claws  and  their  elytral  punctures 
being  in  rows.  There  are  two  genera:  Lema,  in  which  the 
pronotum  is  constricted  at  about  the  middle,  and  Crioceris, 
in  which  it  is  not. 

The  most  frequently  noticed  species  is 
*  trilineata.     It  is  sometimes  called  the  Old- 

fashioned  Potato-beetle  because  it  was  at  work  eating 
potato  leaves  before  the  Potato-beetle  came  north  and  east, 
It  usually  lays  its  eggs  along  the  midrib  of  a  leaf,  not  in  a 
cluster  but  at  random.  Its  larvae  have  a  curious,  but 
not  unique,  habit  of  piling  their  excrement  on  their  backs. 
Pupation  takes  place  underground.     The  adult  is  shown 

364 


Plate  LXXXIII 

It- 


C-  •-  -^ 


V 


LematrilineatQ 


Criocen^  Qsporaqi     J 


LeptinoTQrsa 
lO-lineatQ 


DiQbroticQ        DiabroticQ       PhyllotretQ 
II-punctQtQ  vittatQ  vittata 


CnQl6pU5 

rubra 


%^ 


LQi 


CassidQ 
bivittQto 


/ 


CoptocgclQ 
bicolor 


ASPARAQUS=BEETLES. 


in  Plate  LXXXIII.  In  hrunnicollis  the  elytra  are  wholly- 
dark  blue;  head  and  pronotum  red.  In  collaris  the  el^^tra 
are  wholly  dark  greenish-blue;  head,  black;  pronotum, 
red. 

We   have    two    species;    both    are    from 
Criocens  Europe  and  largely  confined,  as  yet,  to  the 

East;  and  both  attack  asparagus.  C.  asparagi  (Plate 
LXXXIII)  was  introduced  about  1862  near  New  York. 
The  three  yellow  spots  are  sometimes  joined.  Adults 
hibernate  under  rubbish.  The  dark-brown  eggs  are 
usually  laid  in  rows.  Pupation  occurs  underground; 
there  are  several  generations  a  year.  Crioceris  12-punctata 
is  a  trifle  larger;  red  with  six  black  spots  on  each  el3rtron. 
It  was  introduced  about  1881  near  Baltimore.  Adults 
emerging  from  hibernation  eat  the  yoimg  shoots  but  the 
larvae  prefer  the  ripening  berries  to  "leaves."  This  species 
pupates  underground. 

Clythrini 

Adults  of  this  tribe,  also  of  the  Chlamydini  and  Crypto- 
cephalini,  have  "the  basal  ventral  plates  of  the  abdominal 
segments  somewhat  shorter  in  the  middle  than  at  the  sides, 
the  fourth  one  being  often  invisible  in  the  middle,  while 
the  fifth  is  very  large."  Sharp  further  says:  "This 
character  appears  to  be  connected  with  a  very  remarkable 
habit,  viz.,  the  formation  of  a  case  to  envelop  the  egg. 
The  tip  of  the  abdomen  is  somewhat  curved  downwards, 
and,  in  the  female,  bears  a  hollow  near  the  extremity; 
when  an  egg  is  extruded  the  female  envelops  it  with  a 
covering  said  to  be  excrementitious.  When  the  larva 
hatches,  it  remains  within  this  case,  and  subsequently 
enlarges  it  by  additions  from  its  own  body."  The  Cly- 
thrini have  short,  serrate  antenn£e,  which  are  not  received 
in  marginal  grooves  on  the  lower  side  of  the  thorax;  the 
prostemum  does  not  extend  between  the  front  coxae; 
the  pronotum  has  thin  side-margins  and  fits  closely  against 
the  elytra.  The  larvae  of  Coscinoptera  dominicana  are 
said  to  feed  on  vegetable  debris  in  ants'  nests. 

365 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Chlamydini 


See  the  discussion  under  Clythrini,  from  which  tribe 
these  beetles  differ  by  having  the  upper  surface  of  the 
elytra  and  pronotum  covered  with  wart-like  tubercles  and 
by  having  their  short,  serrate  ("saw- toothed")  antennae 
received  in  grooves  on  the  under  side  of  the  thorax.  "The 
legs  are  closely  contractile  and  when  disturbed  the  beetles 
draw  them  and  the  antennas  in  and  feign  death.  They 
then  resemble  the  excrement  of  certain  caterpillars  so 
closely  as  to  render  their  detection  difficult,  unless  the 
collector  is  in  especial  search  for  them,  and  it  is  said  that 
birds  will  not  pick  them  up  for  the  same  reason."  The 
larvae  are  case-making  leaf-feeders  and  pupate  in  their 
cases,  which  they  first  attach  to  twigs.  We  have  two 
genera:  Chlamys,  whose  antennae  are  serrate  from  the 
fourth  or  fifth  joint;  and  Exema,  whose  antennal  serrations 
begin  at  the  sixth  joint. 

Cryptocephalini 

See  the  discussion  under  Clythrini,  from  which  tribe 
these  beetles  are  distinguished  by  the  antennae  being  usually 
long  and  slender,  and  by  the  prosternum  extending  be- 
tween the  front  coxae.  We  have  six  or  eight  genera  and 
numerous  species,  most  of  which  are  "variegated  with 
various  combinations  of  spots  or  stripes  which  are  some- 
times very  inconstant,  so  that  numerous  varieties  have 
been  named."  One  of  the  variable  and  common  species  is 
Cryptocephalus  venustus.  As  its  generic  name  indicates, 
its  head  is  hidden,  the  prothorax  covering  it  above.  It  is 
nearly  .25  in.  long  and,  in  the  typical  form,  the  head  and 
pronotum  is  reddish-brown,  the  latter  having  a  narrow 
edging  and  two  oblique  spots  yellow ;  the  elytra  are  yellow, 
each  with  two  broad,  oblique,  black  or  brown  stripes.  It  is 
found  on  potato  and  other  garden,  as  well  as  wild,  plants. 

Eumolpini 

The  beetles  of  this  tribe  are  usually  of  a  uniform  metallic 
color,  although  some  are  dull  yellow  or  spotted.     Their 

366 


CHRYSOMELID/E :  EUMOLPINI 


head  is  visible  from  above  although  the  pronotum  comes 
about  to  the  eyes;  the  outline  of  the  ej'-es  is  more  or  less 
indented;  the  antennse  are  usually  thread-like  and  widely 
separated  at  their  bases;  the  front  coxas  are  globose  and 
separated  by  the  prosternum;  the  third  tarsal  joint  is 
deeply  bilobed;  the  claws,  toothed  or  cleft.  The  following 
key  will  help  to  identify  eight  of  the  genera.  For  the 
most  part  our  species  are  not  over  .25  in.  long. 

1.  Front  ventral  margin  of  thorax  curved,  forming 
lobes  behind  or  below  the  eyes.  (Only  those  beetles, 
belonging  here,  whose  elytra  are  not  pubescent  or  scaly 
are  considered  further) 2. 

Front  ventral  margin  of  thorax  straight 3, 

2.  Elytral  punctures  in  distinct,  regular  rows;  middle 
and  hind  tibiae  indented  on  outer  edge  near  apex.  Typo- 
phorus.  T.  canellus  is  quite  common  on  a  variety  of  plants 
and  sometimes  injurious  to  strawberries,  raspberries,  etc. 
It  is  exceedingly  variable  in  color  and  markings,  reddish- 
yellow  and  black  being  the  usual  elements.  About  all 
that  can  be  said  here  is  that  it  is  not  .2  in.  long  and  bright 
blue  (7".  vtridicyaneus) ,  nor  has  it  a  saddle- shaped,  black 
space  on  the  elytra  {T.  sellatiis). 

Elytral  punctures  irregular;  tibiae  not  indented.     See 

Plate  LXXXI.     Usually  common  on  dog-bane 

Chrysochus  auratus. 

3.  Side-margins  of  pronotum  not  distinctly  flattened 4. 

Side-margins  of  pronotum  distinctly  flattened 6. 

4.  Not  metallic  above;  head  without  a  groove  above 
the  eyes 5. 

Metallic  green  or  bronzed  above;  head  with  a  groove 
above  the  eyes.  Graphops.  The  larvae  of  G.  nebulosus 
live  in  the  roots  of  strawberries. 

5.  Front  femora  with  a  small  tooth;  third  joint  of 
antennae  not  longer  than  the  second.  On  oak  and  other 
trees Xanthoma. 

Femora  not  toothed;  third  joint  of  antennae  longer 
than  the  second.     On  grape  and  Virginia  creeper.  .  .  .  Fidia. 

6.  Head  with  distinct  grooves  above  the  eyes;  middle 
and  hind  tibiae  indented  near  apex.  On  oak  and  other 
trees Metachroma. 

Head  without  grooves  above  the  eyes 7. 

367 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


7.  Pronotum  about  one-half  wider  than  long,  the  sides 
rather  broadly  curved,  angles  prominent;  dull  brownish- 
or  reddish-yellow;  length  usually  not  over  .25  in.     Adults 

on  various  garden  plants;  larvae  on  roots  of  grape 

Colaspis  brunnea. 
Sides  of  pronotum  straight.     Nodonota  (third  joint  of 
antennae  distinctly  longer  than  the  second,  the  last  five 
joints  not  abruptly  wider)  and  Chrysodina. 

Chrysomelini 

These  oval,  convex  beetles  are  usually  of  moderate  size 
and  variegated  in  color.  The  antennae  are  of  moderate 
length  (see  p.  363),  the  outer  joints  somewhat  enlarged;  the 
eyes  are  not  prominent  and  their  outline  is  feebly  indented ; 
the  pronotum  has  well-defined  side-margins;  the  elytra 
cover  the  abdomen. 

Phyllodecta  is  distinguished  by  the  tarsal  claws  being 
toothed  or  bifid,  and  the  tibiae  neither  dilated  nor  toothed. 

The  genera  mentioned  in  this  paragraph  have  the  third 
tarsal  joint  indented  or  bilobed.  Species  of  Prasocuris 
are  usually  not  over  .25  in.  long;  upper  surface  brassy- 
green,  or  bronzed-black,  with  yellow  stripes;  pronotum 
without  a  thin  margin  at  the  base.  Plagiodera  (punctures 
of  elytra  in  regular  rows;  tibiae  not  grooved  on  the  outer 
side)  and  Gastroidea  (punctures  confused;  tibiae  grooved) 
have  the  sides  of  the  pronotum  thickened  and  unicolorous 
elytra.  G.  cyanea  is  uniform,  brilliant,  green  or  blue,  and 
feeds  on  dock  (Rumex) ;  polygoni  is  like  it  but  the  pronotum, 
legs,  base  of  antennas,  and  tip  of  abdomen  are  reddish, 
and  it  feeds  on  knot-grass;  both  are  about  .2  in.  long.  The 
pronotum  of  Lina  is  thickened  at  the  sides  and  the  elytra 
are  usually  spotted;  length,  .25  to  .4  in.  The  pronotum 
is  dark  metallic  green,  with  yellow  sides,  in  scripta  and 
interrupta.  The  elytra  are  usually  reddish  in  life,  fading 
to  yellow,  with  rounded  black  spots,  which  are  some- 
times merged  into  transverse  bands  {interrupta)  or  are. 
longitudinally  elongate  {scripta).  Both  feed  on  willow, 
and  Populus,  and  both,  sometimes,  have  the  elytra  wholly 
dark-colored.  L.  tremulce  is  an  introduced  European 
species  with  a  green  pronotum  and  unspotted,  dull  yellow 

368 


THE  COLORADO  POTATO  BEETLE. 


elytra.  The  pronotum  of  L.  ohsoleta  has  reddish  margins 
enclosing  a  rounded,  black  spot,  or  is  reddish  with  3  or  4 
black  spots  at  the  center;  elytra  purplish-black  with  the 
margins,  tips,  and  often  two  short,  indistinct  lines  on  basal 
half,  reddish-yellow. 

The  third  tarsal  joint  of  the  following  genera  of  this 
tribe  is  not,  or  scarcely,  indented ;  the  pronotum  has  a  thin 
margin  at  the  base;  the  insects  are  usually  more  than  .25 
in.  long,  robust,  and  convex. 

Labioderma  clivicollis  feeds  on  milkweed.  It  is  dark 
blackish-blue;  elytra  orange-yellow  with  variable,  broad, 
curved,  black  markings;  mesostemum  prominent,  forming 
a  blunt  tubercle  between  the  middle  coxae ;  front  femora  of 
male  strongly  toothed. 

Leptinotarsa  has  simple  femora  and  the  mesostemum  is 
not  raised  above  the  level  of  the  prostemum.  L.  decern- 
lineata,  the  Colorado  Potato  Beetle  (Plate  LXXXIII),  is 
probably  the  most  known  Coleopteron  in  America.  The 
elytral  punctures  are  confluent  and  in  double  rows.  Until 
about  1855  it  was  confined  to  the  Rocky  Mountain  region 
where  it  fed  on  the  wild  relatives  of  the  potato.  Then 
man  introduced  potatoes  to  it,  and  it  did  the  rest,  spreading 
over  the  entire  East.  Adults  hibernate  underground. 
Each  female  lays  about  500  eggs  and  there  are  two  genera- 
tions a  year.  In  the  South  there  is  another  species, 
juncta,  which  is  somewhat  similar  but  the  third  and  fourth 
black  bands  on  each  elytron  are  usually  united  at  the 
base  and  apex;  the  elytral  punctures  are  regular  and  in 
single  rows. 

In  Zygogramma  the  tarsal  claws  are  parallel  and  united 
at  the  bases;  claw- joint  toothed  beneath.  The  adults  of 
suturalis,  which  occur  on  ragweed  in  the  spring  and  on 
golden-rod  in  the  fall,  are  brown,  feebly  bronzed;  elytra 
yellow  with  dark  brown  stripes,  or  vice  versa. 

The  elytra  of  our  Chrysomela  are  without  spots  and  the 
sides  of  the  pronotum  are  thickened.  Like  Calligrapha, 
the  last  palpal  joint  is  not  shorter  than  the  next  to  last. 

The  elytra  of  Calligrapha  have  dark  markings  and  the 

sides  of  the  pronotum  are  not  thickened.     To  mention  a 

few  of  the  many  variable  species,  first  taking  those  with 

yellow  and  brown  stripes  on  the  elytra:  lunata  (chiefly  on 

24  369 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


roses;  median  brown  stripe  of  each  elytron  more  or  less 
divided  by  yellow)  and  similis  (chiefly  on  ragweed;  that 
stripe  merely  notched  on  the  outer  side)  have  the  pronotum 
wholly  brown;  it  is  partly  yellowish  in  prcecelsis  (the  median 
brown  spot  on  pronotum  reaching  the  base)  and  in  elegans 
(this  spot  not  reaching  the  base  of  the  pronotum;  chiefly 
on  Bidens  and  Ambrosia).  Of  those  with  irregular  spots 
on  the  elytra :  the  pronotum  is  wholly  dark  in  philadelphica 
(suture  pale  but  with,  among  other  markings,  a  line  each 
side  of  it;  chiefly  on  dogwood),  in  scalaris  (sutural  stripe 
branched;  a  large  crescentic  shoulder-spot  enclosing  a 
small  dot,  and,  back  of  it,  6  or  8  small  dots,  on  each  elytron; 
chiefly  on  elm  and  linden),  and  in  rhoda  (sutural  stripe 
branched;  each  shoulder-crescent  usually  enclosing  two 
spots;  chiefly  on  hazel);  the  pronotum  is  yellow  with 
reddish-brown  spots  in  multipunctata  (chiefly  on  Cratcegus), 
and  olive-green  or  brown,  with  pale  apical  and  side  mar- 
gins, in  bigsbyana  (on  maple,  willow,  and  alder). 

Galerucini 

The  beetles  of  this  tribe  are  usually  more  oblong  and 
have  softer  elytra  than  those  previously  considered  (see 
also  p.  363).  The  head  is  exposed;  the  third  antennal  joint 
usually  smaller  than  the  fourth ;  hind  femora  not  unusually 
thick;  hind  tibiae  usually  without  terminal  spurs.  The 
following  are  the  genera  most  likely  to  be  noticed. 

^  .         ..  One  of  the  "usuallies, "  above,  was  for 

Galerucella  ,  .  ,         ,  .    ,    .    .  r     ■, 

this  genus;  the  third  joint  of  the  antennae 

is  longer   than   the  fourth.     The  antennas  are   at  least 

half  as  long  as  the  body;  pronotum  has  a  median  and  two 

lateral   impressions;    front    coxal   cavities   open   behind; 

tibiae  ridged  on  the  outer  side  and  without  terminal  spurs; 

first  joint  of  hind  tarsi  not  longer  than  the  next  two;  tarsal 

claws  bifid  in  both  sexes.     There  are  about  a  dozen  species 

in   New   Jersey,   for   example,   and   different   species,  for 

the  most  part,  live  on  different  plants  but  the  one  which 

attracts  attention  is  luteola,  the  Elm-leaf  Beetle   (Plate 

LXXXI),     Yes.     It  is  another  foreigner.     ^ lost  injurious 

species   are   immigrants;    the   principal    reason   for   their 

becoming  injurious  is  that  their  special  enemies,  which 

370 


THE  ELM=LEAF  BEETLE. 


held  them  in  check  at  home,  did  not  come  with  them. 
G.  luteola  came  in  at  Baltimore  about  1834.  The  adult 
hibernates  beneath  bark,  in  cracks  in  buildings,  and  in 
other  shelter.  It  may  go  into  hibernation  quite  yellow 
and  come  out  ver}'-  dark  green.  The  orange-yellow  eggs 
are  laid  in  clusters  on  the  lower  side  of  a  leaf  and  the 
larvas  feed  on  the  lower  side  also,  gradually  skeletonizing 
the  leaf.  When  two  or  three  weeks  old,  they  enter  the 
ground  and  pupate,  emerging  as  adults  in  about  a  week. 
Usually  it  is  the  adults  of  the  second  annual  brood  which 
hibernate.  Hints  as  to  some  of  the  other  species  may  be 
gained  from  their  food-plants.  The  following  have  stripes 
(often  narrow  and  indistinct,  especially  in  americana) 
on  their  elytra:  americana  is  found  on  golden-rod;  notulaia, 
on  rag- weed  (Ambrosia);  and  notata,  on  Eupatorium. 
The  following  have  no  elongate,  dark  markings  on  the 
elytra:  cavicoUis  is  found  on  peach,  plum,  and  cherry; 
rufosanguinea,  on  Azalea;  nymphacB,  on  water-lilies; 
tuherculata  and  decora,  on  willow. 

Among  others,  Trirhabda  may  be  distinguished  from 
Galerucella  by  having  the  third  antennal  joint  shorter 
than  the  fourth;  and  the  antennas  of  Monoxia  do  not  reach 
the  middle  of  the  body,  tarsal  claws  bifid  only  in  males. 

Two  species  are  familiar  to  gardeners. 
D.  i2-punctata  (Plate  LXXXIII)  is  called 
the  Southern  Corn  Root-worm  because  its  larvae  live  in  the 
roots  of  corn  (and  other  grasses)  and  are  sometimes  quite 
injurious  in  the  South.  It  is  called  the  Twelve-spotted 
Cucumber  Beetle  because  the  adults  eat  cucumber  leaves, 
but  they  feed  also  on  melons  of  various  kinds.  The 
hibernating  adults  are  among  the  first  insects  to  appear 
in  the  spring  and  the  last  to  take  shelter  in  the  fall.  The 
Striped  Cucumber  Beetle,  which  feeds  also  on  all  the 
melon  family,  is  D.  vittata  (Plate  LXXXIII).  The  larva; 
live  in  the  roots  and  in  the  base  of  the  vine  of  cucumbers, 
melons,  etc.  Adults  hibernate  in  the  ground.  D.  atri- 
pennis  (elytra  black)  and  D.  longicornis  (elytra  green  or 
yellow,  without  black  margins)  have  the  outer  edge  of  their 
tibias  ridged.  The  latter  species  is  called  the  Western 
Corn  Root- worm. 

371 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Head,  scutellum,  and  under  side  of  body 
trifurcata  black;   pronotum   and   elytra   dull   yellow, 

rarely  reddish;  each  elytron,  usually  but 
not  always,  with  black  basal  and  side  margins,  the  latter 
extending  nearly  to  the  apex,  and  with  three  black  spots 
close  to  the  suture,  the  hind  one  the  smallest;  antennae 
and  the  legs  yellow,  the  tibise  and  often  the  femora,  in 
part,  black;  length  about  .17  in.  Common  on  peas,  beans, 
and  other  Legumes. 


Halticini 

"A  large  group  of  small  or  medium-sized  leaf-eating 
forms,  distinguished  from  the  preceding  tribe  mainly 
by  the  fact  that  the  hind  thighs  are  greatly  enlarged  and 
thickened  for  leaping.  As  a  consequence  they  are  known 
as  ' fiea-beetles '  or  'jumping  beetles,'  this  term  being 
especially  apphed  to  the  small  black  species  of  Haltica  and 
Epitrix,  which  are  very  injurious  to  vegetation  in  the 
mature  or  adult  stage." 

CEdionychis  (last  joint  of  hind  tarsi  globosely  swollen). 
Haltica  (a  feeble  transverse  impression  on  basal  half  of 
pronotum;  each  hind  tibia  with  a  short,  terminal  spur), 
Disonycha  (first  joint  of  hind  tarsus  short  as  compared 
with  the  tibiae,  and  rather  broad;  beetles  distinctly  more 
than  .17  in.  long),  and  Pliyllotreta  have  the  frontal  coxae 
open  behind. 

The  following  two  are  the  garden  species. 
D.  triangularis:  black  (with  a  faint  bluish 
tinge  on  el>i;ra)  except  for  the  pronotum,  which  is  yellow 
with  a  pair  of  round,  black  spots  and  a  small,  linear  one; 
length,  about  .25  in.;  on  a  variety  of  plants,  sometimes 
injurious  to  beets  and  spinach.  D.  xanthomelcena:  re- 
sembles the  preceding  but,  among  other  things,  is  usually 
smaller,  has  the  pronotimi  entirely  yellow,  the  elytra  with 
a  greenish  tinge,  and  the  abdomen  yellow;  it  feeds  upon  a 
number  of  wild  plants  but  is  known  as  the  Spinach  Flea- 
beetle. 

372 


FLEA-BEETLES. 


The  hind  tibiae  are  not  grooved  on  the 
Phyllotreta  ,         ,  ,.   i    , 

outer  edge,  but  skghtly  excavated  near  the 

tip  and  with  a  spur  at  the  middle  beneath.     P.  vittata 

(Plate  LXXXIII)  is  common  all  summer  on  cabbage  and 

other  Cruciferce.     The  fifth  joint  of  the  antennae  is  longer 

than  either  the  fourth  or  the  sixth;  the  male  has  the  fifth 

antennal  joint  tliickened. 

„  ,  .  The    two    common,    garden    species    are 

Haltica  ...         .  ,      .     .  ,  ,  ,        , 

distinguished   from   the  others   by  having 

no  longitudinal  fold  along  the  sides  of  the  elytra;  by  the 
antennse  and  legs  being  black;  and  by  a  deep  groove 
which  extends  completely  across  the  pronotum  in  front 
of  the  base.  H.  chalybea  is  the  Grape  Flea-beetle.  It  is 
usually  not  less  than  .17  in.  long;  metallic  blue,  rarely 
greenish;  pronotum  distinctly  narrowed  in  front.  H. 
ignita  is  usually  not  more  than  .17  in.  long;  color  varies 
from  a  coppery-golden  lustre,  through  greenish,  to  dark 
blue;  pronotum  only  slightly  narrowed  in  front.  In  addi- 
tion to  feeding  on  a  variety  of  wild  plants  it  attacks  straw- 
berries and  roses. 

The  following  have  the  front  coxal  cavities  closed 
behind;  the  last  joint  of  the  hind  tarsi  is  not  inflated, 
usually  slender,  although  sometimes  thickened  in  a  side 
view.  The  antennas  of  Blepharida  are  12-jointed,  instead 
of  1 1 ;  tarsal  claws  bifid.  Chcetocnetna  has  the  hind  tibise 
sinuate  near  the  apex  and  with  a  distinct  tooth  on  the  outer 
margin.  Epitrix  (elytra  with  rows  of  stiff  hairs)  and  Crepi- 
dodera  (elytra  without  hairs;  antennse  shorter  than  the 
body)  have  a  distinct  transverse  impression  in  front  of  the 
base  of  the  pronotum.  The  following  lack  such  an  im- 
pression: Dibolia  (hind  tibial  spur  broad,  emarginate,  or 
bifid  at  apex),  Mantura  (pronotum  with  a  short,  deep 
longitudinal  impression  on  each  side  near  the  base),  and 
Systeiia  (pronotum  without  any  impression). 

^,  C.   confinis  is   the   species   likely  to   be 

noticed    first.     It    feeds    on    sweet-potato, 

morning-glory,  and  other  Convolvulaceae.     It  is  less  than 

.07  in.  long;  black,  slightly  bronzed;  antennas  and  legs, 

373 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


except  hind  femora,  reddish-yellow;  pronotum  obliquely 
cut  off  at  the  front  angles  and  with  an  angulation  in  front 
of  the  middle.  C.  pulicaria  is  locally  common  and  some- 
times injurious  to  com  and  millet.  It  is  about  the  same 
size;  black,  with  faint  greenish  or  bluish-bronzed  lustre; 
the  base  of  antennse  and  tibiae  and  tarsi  yellowish;  side  of 
pronotum  regularly  curved  and  the  front  angles  not  cut 
off;  head  without  punctures,  but  a  row  along  the  basal 
margin  of  the  pronotum. 

Only   rufipes   need    be   mentioned   here. 
Crepidodera         ^^  .^  ^^^^^    ^  .^^  j^^^.  ^^^^^  pronotum,  and 

legs  dull  reddish-yellow;  elytra  dark  blue;  there  are  no 
punctures  on  the  pronottun.  On  locust  (Robinia),  and 
sometimes  injurious  to  grape,  peach,  apple,  and  other 
fruit  trees. 

Again  we  have  two  garden  species.     E. 
^^^^^  cucumeris  is  not  over  .08  in.  long;  shining 

black,  with  reddish-yellow  antennae  and  legs,  except  the 
hind  femora.  The  pronotum  is  not  densely  punctate  and 
the  impression  in  front  of  the  base  is  well  marked.  It  is 
the  Cucimiber  Flea-beetle  but  is  not  at  all  choice  in  its 
food,  eating  also  the  leaves  of  potato  and  other  plants. 
In  E.  parvula  the  pronotum  is  rather  closely  pimctate 
and  the  impression  is  scarcely  visible.  It  is  about  the 
same  size  and  dull  reddish-yellow.  The  adults  feed  on 
the  leaves  of  potato,  tomato,  and  egg-plant,  but  do  their 
greatest  damage  by  eating  holes  in  tobacco  leaves.  The 
larvce  feed  on  the  roots  of  common  weeds,  such  as  the 
nightshade  and  Jamestown  weed. 

And,    finally,    we    note    this    pair.     S. 
Systena  Jiudsonias:    length,   .17  in.;    shining  black 

except  for  the  yellow  third  to  fifth  anten- 
nal  joints.  Common  on  many  plants.  S.  tccjiiata:  length, 
about  the  same;  color  variable,  usually  reddish-or 
brownish-yellow,  shining;  each  elytron  with  a  paler, 
median  stripe;  narrow  side-margins  of  pronotum  and  under 
side  of  body  usually  black.  Adults  occur  on  various  plants, 
including  cultivated  ones, 

374 


LEAF=MININQ  BEETLES. 


Hispini 

See  p.  363.  Most  of  the  larv^ae  live  in  leaves,  feeding  on 
the  tissue  between  the  two  surfaces.  See  in  this  connec- 
tion the  Micro-lepidoptera  and  Brachys.  The  first  three 
segments,  back  of  the  head,  of  a  Hispine  larva  are  wider 
than  the  rest  of  the  body. 

Microrhopala  (antennae  either  thread-like  or  the  last  4 
joints  united  into  an  oblong  mass;  elytra  not,  or  only 
feebly,  ridged)  and  Octotoma  (the  last  2  antennal  joints 
enlarged;  elytra  with  short,  obhque  folds)  have  8  or  9 
antennal  joints.  The  others  have  11,  and  some  of  them 
may  be  separated  as  follows. 

I      Elytra  ridged 2, 

Elytra  not  ridged;  body  elongate.  Stenispa.  S. 
■metallica  is  a  imiform,  shining  black,  slightly  bronzed; 
length  .2  in.  The  pronotum  of  collaris  is  red;  length 
slightly  over  .25  in. 

2.  Middle    tibiae   strongly   curved Charistena. 

Middle  tibiae  straight.     Chalepus,  also  called  Odontata. 

The  following  species  are  about  .25  in.  long,  except  as 
noted 3, 

3.  Each  elytron  with  ten  rows  of  punctures ;  ridged 4. 

Each  elytron  with  eight  rows  of  punctures;  color  varies 

from  nearly  uniform  rose-red  to  nearly  black,  with  a  few 
indistinct  reddish  or  yellowish  spots;  legs  pale;  length 
about  .17  in.       On  locust Chalepus  nervosa. 

4.  Each  elytron  with  only  three  ridges 5, 

Each  elytron  with  three  ridges,  and  a  fourth  (at  base 

and  apex)  between  the  second  and  third.  See  Plate 
LXXXIII.  On  locust  (Robina),  basswood,  and  other 
trees Chalepus  rubra. 

5.  Elytra  wholly  black;  pronotum  wholly  red 

Chalepus  hicolor. 

Elytra  black,  with  red  shoulders;  pronotum  red,  with  a 
dark  center Chalepus    scapularis. 

Elytra  and  pronotum  scarlet,  fading  to  yellowish, 
with  a  black,  sutural  line  which  becomes  gradually  broader 
as  it  reaches  the  apex.  The  larva  makes  a  blotch  mine  on 
locust Chalepus  dorsalis. 

375 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Cassidini 


On  account  of  their  form,  these  are  often  called  Tortoise 
Beetles.  Many  of  them  are  beautifully  colored  in  life, 
but  the  golden  hues  rapidly  fade  after  death.  The  oval, 
flattened,  prickly  larvas  feed  upon  the  surface  of  leaves. 
"The  larvas  are  almost  as  disagreeable  as  the  adult  beetles 
are  attractive,  but  are  nevertheless  very  interesting  crea- 
tures. Each  of  them  is  provided  with  a  tail-like  fork  at 
the  end  of  the  body  which  is  almost  as  long  as  the  body, 
.  .  .  Upon  this  fork  are  heaped  the  excrement  and  cast 
skins  of  the  larva,  and  when  covered  by  this  'umbrella' 
it  is  with  great  difficulty  that  the  larva  is  distinguished 
from  a  bit  of  mud  or  a  bird-dropping.  The  manner  in 
which  this  fork  increases  with  the  size  of  the  larva  is  rather 
interesting.  At  each  molt,  the  faeci-fork  of  the  last  stage 
is  held  upon  the  new  faeci-fork,  and  in  this  way  those  of 
the  different  stages  are  telescoped,  the  one  inside  the  other, 
and  the  stage  of  growth  of  the  larva  may  be  readily  deter- 
mined by  the  number  of  cast  skins  held  on  the  fork. 
From  the  likeness  of  this  burden  to  a  pack,  the  larvae  are 
often  known  as  'peddlers.'  In  order  to  more  firmly  bind 
the  excrement  and  cast  skins  to  the  fork,  the  larvae  fasten 
them  together  by  a  fine  network  of  silken  threads,  which 
are  attached  to  the  spines  at  the  sides  of  the  body. 
When  fully  grown  the  larva  fastens  itself  to  a  leaf,  its  skin 
spUts  open  along  the  back,  and  from  it  comes  the  pupa, 
which  is  held  to  the  leaf  by  its  caudal  fork,  which  is  securely 
incased  in  the  faeci-fork  of  the  larval  skin"  (Sanderson). 
The  adult  hibernates.  Unless  otherwise  stated,  the 
following  feed  chiefly  on  sweet-potatoes  and  other  Con- 
volvulaceae. 

^,   ,  ,  This   has   also   been   called   ar^us.     The 

Chelymorpha  .     .  ,  .   „ 

cassidea  front  of  the  pronotum  is  incurved,  partially 

exposing   the  head;    upper   surface   red   or 

yellow,  with  four  or  six  black  dots  on  pronotum,  and  six 

on  each  elytron  in  addition  to  a  sutural  one  near  the  base; 

under  surface  black;  length,  about  .4  in.     The  eggs  are 

laid  in  bunches,  each  egg  being  supported  by  a  long  stalk 

or  pedicle.     When  full-grown,  the  larva  is  about  .5  in.  long 

376 


TORTOISE  BEETLES. 


with  the  faeci-fork  half  as  long  again,  slightly  convex, 
dirty  yellowish,  with  numerous  dark-brown  tubercles  and 
prominent  lateral  spines.  The  yellowish  to  black  ground- 
color of  the  pupa  is  almost  concealed  by  a  bluish  bloom  or 
waxy  excretion  resembling  mold.  On  milkweeds,  Con- 
volvulus, and,  sometimes,  raspberries. 

In  the  following,  the  pronotum  is  rounded  in  front, 
covering  the  head;  its  side-margins  are  flattened  (not 
thickened  as  in  Physonota).  The  antennae  of  Cassida 
do  not  reach  beyond  the  base  of  the  pronotum;  those  of 
Coptocycla  extend  beyond  it.  The  names  given  are  those 
in  general  use,  as  yet.  Students  interested  in  possible 
changes  are  referred  to  Proc,  Ent.  Soc.  Washington,  vol. 
xviii.,  page  113. 

C.  nigripes  is  dull  red  or  yellow  after 
death;  each  elytron  with  three  obscure 
black  dots  near  the  middle;  base  of  antennas,  part  of  tibiae, 
and  tarsi,  reddish,  rest  of  legs  and  antennae  black.  The 
eggs  are  laid  in  rows  of  three  or  more,  so  that  several  of  the 
bright,  straw-yellow  larvee,  having  two  crescentic,  black 
marks  just  back  of  the  head  and  prominent,  black-tipped 
spines,  will  be  found  together.  The  mass  of  excrement 
is  usually  much  branched.  The  pronotum  of  C.  hivittata 
is  yellowish,  with  a  large,  triangular,  brownish-red  space 
at  the  base;  elytra  dull  yellow,  with  the  suture  and  two 
stripes  on  each  black  or  dark  brown ;  under  surface  and  legs 
black.  Eggs  are  usually  laid  singly.  The  cream-colored, 
with  a  longitudinal  band  along  the  back,  larva  (Plate 
LXXXIII)  does  not  carry  excrement  but  merely  cast  skins 
and  holds  them  at  an  angle  from  the  body,  instead  of  close 
over  the  back. 

C.  purpurata  is  usually  not  common  in 
the  North.  It  is  less  than  .25  in.  long,  with 
unspotted,  brownish-red  elytra.  Coptocycla  bicolor  (Plate 
LXXXIII)  is  common  on  bindweed.  It  is  one  of  several 
"Gold-bugs."  Harris  said:  "When  living  it  has  the 
power  of  changing  its  hues,  at  one  time  appearing  only  of  a 
dull  yellow  color,  and  at  other  times  shining  with  the 
splendor  of  polished  brass  or  gold,  tinged  sometimes  also 

377 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


with  variable  tints  of  pearl.  The  wing  covers,  the  parts 
which  exhibit  a  change  of  color,  are  lined  beneath  with  an 
orange  colored  paint,  which  seems  to  be  filled  with  little 
vessels;  and  these  are  probably  the  source  of  the  changeable 
brilliancy  of  the  insect."      Freshly  emerged  adults  are  dull 
orange  and  have  three  black  dots  on  each  elytron  but, 
as  the  golden  color   is  assumed,   these   spots  disappear. 
After  death,  the  elytra  become  dull  reddish-yellow.    Thanks 
to  Mr.  Leng,  who  sifted  several  hibernating  adults  from  the 
fallen  leaves  in  his  garden  just   as  the  pubHshers  were 
calling  for  "copy, "  I  am  able  to  give  a  figure  colored  from 
life — the  only  one  which  has  been  published,  as  far  as  I 
know.     The  under  surface  and  last  four  joints   of  the 
antennae  are  black;  the  flat  margins  of  the  pronotum  and 
elytra  are  very  thin  and  translucent.     The  egg  has  three 
spiny  prongs;  the  larva's  "pack"  is  trilobed  in  outline;  the 
pupa  is  hidden  by  the  larval  pack  and  has  three  dark 
stripes  on  the  pronotum,    with  similar  markings  over  the 
abdomen.  The  following  two  have  dark  markings  on  the 
elytra.     In  C.  clavata  the  disk  of  the  elytra  is  quite  rough 
from  the  numerous  tubercles  or  elevations;  base  of  prono- 
tum and  the  elytra,  except  for  the  apices  and  the  middle 
of  the  side  margins,  brown;  under  surface  pale  yellow; 
length,  .3  in.     The  disk  of  the  elytra  of  C.  signifera  is 
smooth;  dull  yellow;  base  of  pronotum  usually  with  a 
large,  black  spot,  enclosing  two  pale  ones;  disk  of  elytra 
and  shoulders  black  with  irregular,  yellow  spots;  length, 
not  over  .25  in.     "The  larva  is  a  pale  straw-yellow  color 
during  the  first  four  stages  when  it  carries  excrement  on 
the  faeci-fork  in  a  peculiar  branched  shape  much  like  that 
of  the  black-legged  tortoise-beetle  larva,   but  after   the 
last  moult  the  color  changes  to  a  pea  green,  and  all  the  ex- 
crement is  removed  from  the  faeci-fork,  which  makes  the 
larva  very  difficult  to  recognize  on  a  green  leaf.     In  as 
much  as  the  larva  does  not  feed  and  remains  entirely 
motionless  during  this  last  stage,  this  change  of  color  is 
very  evidently  of  protective  value.     The  pupa  is  also  a 
bright  green,  marked  only  by  a  ring  around  each  of  the 
first    pair    of    abdominal    spiracles"    (Sanderson).     The 
discal  space  on  the  elytra  of   C.  plicata  is  shiny  black, 
without  spots. 


0/ 


PEA  AND  BEAN  WEEVILS. 


Bruchid^ 


There  are,  relatively,  not  many  of  these  beetles  and,  for 
the  most  part,  they  are  less  than  .25  in.  long.  They 
differ  from  most  of  the  Chrysomelidas  by  having  short, 
saw-toothed  antennae,  and  the  tip  of  the  abdomen  is 
exposed.  The  larvee  live  in  seeds,  especially  of  Legumes, 
and  are  often  called  "weevils" — a  term  which  is  confusing 
because  of  its  application  to  the  Rhynchophora.  We 
have,  all  of  us,  eaten  hundreds  of  the  larvag  with  our  peas 
and  beans,  but — what's  the  difference?  The  eggs  are 
usually  laid  upon  the  pod  when  the  peas,  for  example,  are 
quite  small,  and  the  young  larvas  bore  inside. 

Spermophagus  has  two  slender,  jointed  spurs  on  each 
hind  tibia.  The  only  Northeastern  species,  rohinicB, 
breeds  in  the  seeds  of  the  locusts  {Robinia  and  Gleditschia) . 
The  adult  is  about  .3  in.  long;  dull  reddish-brown,  clothed 
with  grayish-yellow  pubescence;  elytra  with  small,  black 
spots  arranged  in  five  irregular,  transverse  rows. 

This  is  the  large  and  common  genus. 
The  hind  tibiae  are  without  jointed  spurs 
and  the  prominent,  front  coxae  touch  each  other.  Only 
two  species  (Plate  LXXXIV)  will  be  mentioned,  but 
many  others  ma}^  be  obtained  either  in  ordinary  collecting 
or,  better  because  it  gives  food  habits,  by  breeding  from 
seeds  of  wild  plants.  B.  pisorum,  the  Pea  -Weevil,  has 
a  notch  on  the  middle  of  each  side  of  the  pronotum  and  a 
tooth  on  the  outer  side  of  each  hind  femur.  It  is  black, 
densely  clothed  with  reddish-brown  and  whitish  hairs; 
pronotum  with  a  triangular,  whitish  space  in  front  of 
scutellum;  elytra  with  yellowish,  grayish,  and  whitish 
hairs.  There  is  but  one  generation  a  year  and  this  species 
does  not  breed  in  dry  peas.  The  adult  hibernates.  The 
newly-hatched  larva  has  legs  but  it  loses  these  when  it 
becomes  a  fat,  sedentary  grub.  Pupation  occurs  within 
the  seed.  B.  obtectus,  the  Bean  Weevil,  has  no  notch  on  the 
sides  of  the  pronotum  and  each  hind  femur  has  two  fine 
teeth  in  addition  to  a  larger  one  near  the  tip.  It  is  black, 
clothed  with  grayish-yellow  pubescence;  abdomen  dull 
reddish-brown;  antennae  black,  the  apical  and  four  basal 

379 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


joints  reddish;  legs  reddish-brown,  underside  of  hind 
femora  black.  In  the  field  the  eggs  are  laid  upon,  or  are 
inserted  in,  the  bean-pod,  but  eggs  are  also  placed  loosely 
among  shelled  beans.  The  larvae  and  pupae  are  much  like 
those  of  pisorum  but,  imlike  that  species,  more  than  one 
(28  have  been  recorded)  may  be  inside  a  single  seed.  The 
life-cycle  takes  from  three  to  twelve,  or  more,  weeks, 
depending  on  conditions.  Breeding  is  continuous  through- 
out the  year,  if  it  is  warm  enough. 

H-ETEROMERA 

The  members  of  this  series  have  five  tarsal  joints  on 
each  of  the  front  and  middle  legs  and  only  four  on  each  of 
the  hind  legs. 

1.  Front  coxal  cavities  closed  behind 2. 

Front  coxal  cavities  open  behind 4. 

2.  Tarsal  claws  simple 3. 

Tarsal  claws  comb-like Cistelid^    (p.  384). 

3.  Next  to  last  joint  of  tarsi  not  spongy  beneath 

TENEBRIONID.E  (p.  381). 

Next  to  last  joint  of  tarsi  spongy  beneath;  front  coxae 

prominent;  last  joint  of  antennae  at  least  as  long  as  the 

three  preceding  joints  combined Lagriid^  (p.  384). 

4.  Head  not  strongly  and  suddenly  constricted  behind 
the  eyes 5, 

Head  strongly  and  suddenly  constricted  behind  the 
eyes 7. 

5.  Middle  coxae  not  very  prominent 6. 

Middle  coxae  very  prominent;  pronotum  narrower  at 

base  than  elytra,  its  sides  rounded  and  without  a  sharp 
edge;   next  to  last  tarsal  joint  broad,   slightly  bilobed; 

body-covering  rather  flimsy  in  texture 

CEdemerid^  (p.  385). 

6.  Pronotum  margined  at  sides,  broad  at  base,  its  disk 
(middle  portion)  with  impressions  near  base;  form  usually 
elongate,  loosely  jointed;  maxillary  palpi  usually  long  and 
pendulous,  with  the  joints  enlarged 

Melandryid^  (p.  385). 

Pronotum   not  margined,  narrower  behind,  disk  not 

impressed  at  base;  form  usually  long  and  narrow;  head 

sometimes  prolonged  into  a  beak Pythid^e  (p.  385). 

380 


THE  DARKLING  BEETLES. 


7.  Pronotum  with  a  sharp  edge  at  sides,  its  base  as  wide 
as  elytra 8. 

Sides  of  pronotum  more  or  less  rounded  and  without 
a  sharp  edge 10. 

8.  Antennae  thread-like 9. 

Antennae  with  long,  flat  processes  folding  like  a  fan 

(male) ,  or  somewhat  saw- toothed   (female) 

Pelecotoma  of  the  RniPiPHORiDiE  (p.  393). 

9.  Hind  coxae  with  plates;  head  with  vertex  lobed  or 
ridged  behind,  so  that,  when  extended,  it  rests  on  the 
front  edge  of  the  pronotum;  abdomen  usually  ending  in  a 
pointed  process Mordellid^    (p.  385). 

Hind     coxae     without     plates;     length     less    than 
.25  in Tribe  Scraptiini  of  the  Melandryid^  (p.  385). 

10.  Pronotum  narrower  at  base  than  elytra ii» 

Pronotum  as  wide  at  base  as  elytra;  the  abdomen  not 

ending  in  a  spinous  process;  elytra  usually  shorter  than 
abdomen  and   narrowed   behind;   antennae   comb-like  in 

males,  frequently  saw- toothed  in  females 

Rhipiphorid^e  (p.  393). 

11.  Hind  coxae  not  prominent;  tarsal  claws  simple; 
antennae  thread-like  and  simple;  head  with  an  abrupt, 
narrow  neck;  length  less  than  .5  in.,  usually  less  than 
.2  in Anthicid^  (p.  386), 

£Qnd  coxae  large,  prominent 12. 

12.  Tarsal  claws  simple;  head  horizontal;  antennae 
usually  branched  in  male,  saw- toothed  in  female;  next  to 
last  tarsal  joints  very  broad  .  .  .  .Pyrochroid^  (p.  386). 

Tarsal  claws  cleft  or  toothed;  front  vertical;  at  least 
.25  in.  long Meloid^  (p.  387)^ 

TENEBRIONIDiE 

These  are  the  Darkling  Beetles.  There  are  many 
species  in  the  Southwest,  where  they  occur  like  Carabidae, 
but  they  are  by  no  means  lacking  in  the  East:  New  Jersey, 
for  example,  having  more  than  sixty  species.  The  eastern 
species  are  not  usually  found  under  stones,  as  are  those 
in  arid  regions,  but  in  dead  wood,  fungi,  and  dry  vegetable 
products.  The  western  Pinacate  (Eleodes),  "the  bug 
that  stands  on  his  head, "  is  a  member  of  this  family. 

381 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


The  larvae  of  T.  obscurus  (Plate  LXXXIV) 
and  molitor  are  the  large  Meal-worms,  which 
have  the  distinction  of  being,  probably,  the  only  insects 
injurious  to  man's  goods  which  are  purposely  bred  on  a 
large  scale  for  commercial  purposes.  They  destroy  large 
quantities  of  flour,  meal,  cereals,  and  the  like  but  are 
bred  and  sold  for  soft-billed  birds  to  eat.  The  larvae 
are  hard,  cylindrical,  and  strongly  resemble  wire-worms 
(Elateridae) .  That  of  obscurus  is  about  an  inch  long,  when 
full-grown;  yellow  but  shading  off  into  yellowish-brown  at 
each  end  and  where  the  segments  join.  That  of  molitor 
is  somewhat  lighter.  The  pupae  are  whitish  and  about 
.6  in.  long;  most  of  the  abdominal  segments  have  fringed 
side-expansions  and  the  last  one  ends  in  two  spines.  The 
adults  of  both  species  are  black  or  dark  reddish-brown  and 
about  .6  in.  long;  molitor  is  shiny  and  obscurus  is  not. 
They  are  frequently  attracted  to  lights.  There  seems 
to  be,  normally,  but  one  generation  a  year,  but  in  heated 
buildings  this  is  not  very  definite.  Related  species  occur 
under  bark. 

Nyctobates  pennsylvanica  is  a  black  beetle,  nearly  an 
inch  long,  which  is  often  common  under  the  loose  bark  of 
dead  trees.  The  genus  differs  from  Tenebrio  by  the  tarsal 
pubescence  being  fine  and  silky.  The  antennae  do  not 
reach  to  the  back  of  the  pronotum,  which  is  not  narrowed 
at  the  base. 

We  have  two  species  of  this  genus  which 
occur  in  meal,  grain,  and  other  vegetable 
products.  To  give  them  a  common  name  different  from 
that  applied  to  Tenebrio,  they  have  been  called  Flour 
Beetles,  but  neither  name  is  very  distinctive.  Tribolium 
ferrugineum  is  reddish-brown;  its  head  is  not  expanded 
beyond  the  eyes  at  the  sides;  its  antennal  club  is  distinctly 
three-jointed ;  and  its  length  is  less  than  .2  in.  Its  "cousin," 
confusum  (Plate  LXXXIV),  is  darker;  its  head  is  expanded 
on  each  side  in  front  of  the  eye;  antennal  joints  gradually 
broader  at  tip.  It  has  been  recorded  as  breeding  in  pepper 
as  well  as  in  a  variety  of  milder,  starchy  foods  and  it 
also  eats  the  eggs  and  larvae  of  other  meal-feeding  insects. 

382 


Plate  LXXXIV 


Bruchus  obtQCtus 


Bruchus  plsorum 


Tenebno    obscurus 


Boletotherus 
bl]urcu& 


Tribolium  conjusum 


rvlocerdes 
melonura 


MordellaS-punctQlo 


383 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS, 


The  larvae  and  pupae  are  much  like  Tenebrio  in  miniatura. 
Under  favorable  circumstances,  a  generation  may  be 
completed  in  five  or  six  weeks  and  there  may  be  several 
generations  a  year. 

_  .      .  We  have  one  species,  bifurcus.     It  occurs, 

Boletotherus  .        .  ,        ^  '     ■'    .,,         ,      .,  , 

often  in  numbers,  m  woody,    bracket    fungi, 

such  as  grow  on  the  sides  of  trees  and  stumps.     The  adults 

are  black  or  brownish-black.     What  attracts  attention  are 

the  homed  males   (Plate  LXXXIV).     A  related  genus, 

Boletophagus,  is  found  with  it,  but  more  often  under  bark. 

In  it  each  eye  is  completely  divided  and  the  antenna  are 

1 1 -jointed.     There  are  two  species,  each  not  over  .3  in. 

long  and  black:  in  corticola  the  pronotum  has  numerous 

tubercles,  its  margin  is  scalloped  and,  in  front  of  the  hind 

angles,    deeply   notched;    in    depressus   the   pronotum    is 

merely  coarsely  punctured  and  its  sides  are  evenly  rounded. 

Diaperis  maculata  is  also  common  in  hard  fungi  and 
under  bark.  It  is  about  .25  in.  long,  oval  and  convex. 
The  head  and  most  of  the  elytra  are  reddish,  otherwise 
black. 

The  species  of  Cistelid^  are  like  those  of  the  Tene- 
brionidae  in  general  structure,  but  see  the  key  (p.  380). 
They  have  longer,  more  slender  antennas  and  generally 
smooth,  pubescent  surface;  they  are  usually  brown  in 
color  with  no,  or  only  confused,  maculation  and  often 
taper  to  a  point  posteriorly.  They  are  found  on  leaves, 
flowers,  and  under  bark,  the  larv«,  so  far  as  known,  living 
in  rotten  wood  and  somewhat  resembling  wire-worms  in 
shape.     None  are  of  economic  importance. 

Of  the  Lagriid^  (see  p.  380)  there  are  probably  less  than 
a  dozen  recognized  species  in  the  United  States  and  only 
two  genera.  These  species  are  black  or  bronzed,  with 
rather  thin,  flexible  el^'lra,  and  are  found  on  flowers, 
leaves,  or  under  bark  of  trees.  For  our  purposes,  we  may 
say  that  our  species  of  Arthromacra  are  about  .5  in.,  and 
of  Statira  usually  less  than  .3  in.  long. 

384 


MORDELLID/E  AND  RELATIVES. 


Melandryid^  (see  p.  380)  is  another  small  family  but  it 
contains  about  ten  times  as  many  species  as  the  preceding. 
They  feed  on  fungi  and  dry  vegetable  matter,  such  as 
dead  wood.  Penthe  ohliquata,  about  .5  in.  long,  is  velvety 
black  with  yellow  on  the  scutellum;  frequent  under  bark 
of  dead  trees. 

About  two  dozen  species  of  Pythid^  (see  p.  380)  have 
been  described  from  the  United  States.  They  occur  under 
bark,  especially  of  pine. 

Of  the  CEdemerid^,  Nacerdes  melanura  (Plate  LXXXIV) 
should  be  mentioned.  It  is  a  cosmopolitan  beetle  which 
is  rather  common  in  cities  about  cellars,  old  boxes,  and 
lumber  yards.  It  varies  from  ,3  to  .5  in.  in  length;  dull 
yellow  above,  elytra  tipped  with  blackish  purple;  each 
front  tibia  with  one  spur;  next  to  the  last  tarsal  joints 
broadly  dilated.  Other  species  are  found  on  flowers, 
leaves,  and  sometimes  in  crevices  of  logs,  trees,  or  stumps. 

MORDELLID^ 

See  p.  381.  "This  family  includes  a  large  number  of 
small,  wedge-shaped  beetles  having  the  body  arched,  the 
head  bent  downward  and  the  abdomen  usually  prolonged 
into  a  style  or  pointed  process.  The  hind  legs  are,  in 
most  species,  very  long  and  stout,  fitted  for  leaping;  the 
antennae  long  and  slender  and  the  thorax  is  as  wide  at 
base  as  the  elytra.  The  body  is  densely  covered  with  fine 
silky  hairs,  usually  black,  but  often  very  prettily  spotted  or 
banded  with  yeUow  or  silver  hues.  The  adults  occur  on 
flowers  or  on  dead  trees  and  are  very  active,  flying  and 
running  with  great  rapidity  and  in  the  net  or  beating 
umbrella  jumping  and  tumbling  about  in  grotesque  manner 
in  their  efforts  to  escape.  The  larvae  live  in  old  wood 
or  in  the  pith  of  plants,  and  those  of  some  species  are  said 
to  be  carnivorous  in  habit,  feeding  upon  the  young  of 
Lepidoptera  and  Diptera  which  they  find  in  the  plant 
stems"  (Blatchley).  The  genus  which  has  the  most 
species  in  our  region  is  Mordellistena.  They  are  usually 
not  over  .25  in.  long;  their  hind  tibiae  have  a  distinct  ridge 

25  385 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


near  the  apex  and  usually  one  or  more  oblique  ones;  their 
eyes  are  coarsely  granulated.  The  two  following  genera 
agree  with  it  in  having  the  last  abdominal  segment  pro- 
longed into  a  conical  "style"  and  their  tarsal  claws  comb- 
like, but  their  hind  tibiae  have  but  a  small  ridge  near  the 
apex  and  their  eyes  are  only  finely  granulated:  in  Tomoxia 
the  style  is  short,  obtuse,  and  the  scutellum  is  usually 
indented  behind;  in  Mordella  (Plate  LXXXIV)  the  anal 
style  is  long,  slender,  and  the  scutellum  is  triangular. 
Two  other  genera  Pentaria  and  Anaspis  (fourth  joint  of 
the  front  and  middle  tarsi  smaller  than  the  third)  are  not 
especially  rare  but  they  have  few  and  small  species;  their 
abdomen  is  not  prolonged  at  the  tips  and  the  tarsal  claws 
are  not  cleft. 

Anthicid^ 

Probably  three  hundred  or  more  species  are  known 
from  North  America;  more  than  a  hundred  new  species 
were  described  in  a  single  paper.  They  are,  for  the  most 
part,  small  creatures  with  drooping  heads;  the  key  (p.  380) 
gives  a  number  of  technical  points  which  distinguish  them 
from  related  families.  They  are  to  be  found  on  flowers, 
in  rotten  wood,  and  in  burrows  in  sandy  places  near 
water.  Some  of  them  resemble  ants  and  others  have  a 
prominent  horn  on  the  front  part  of  the  thorax.  Of  the 
latter  sort :  Notoxus  has  the  hind  tarsi  not  longer  than  the 
tibiae;  they  are  much  longei*  than  the  tibiae  in  Mecynotarsus. 
Our  species  of  these  genera  are  usually  not  over  .25  in, 
long. 

Pyrochroid^e 

See  p.  381.  Only  a  dozen  or  so  species  are  known  from 
the  United  States  and  they  are  not  usually  very  common. 
The  individuals  are  usually  of  moderate  size  with  elytra 
rather  soft  in  texture,  usually  widened  behind  the  middle, 
and  relatively  long.  The  head  is  almost  horizontal  and' 
constricted  behind  the  eyes  into  a  rather  slender  neck, 
both  head  and  thorax  being  much  narrower  than  the 
elytra.     Most  of  our  species  have  a  reddish  pronotum  and 

386 


BLISTER=BEETLES. 


black  or  blue  elytra.  The  antenna  vary  from  simple 
in  some  species,  through  saw-toothed,  to  comb-like  or 
branched  in  the  males  of  others.  The  larvae  have  a  broad 
head,  stout  legs,  and  two  spines  on  the  tip  of  the  abdomen. 
Dendroides  may  be  distinguished  from  other  genera  by 
having  very  large  eyes  which  nearly  touch  each  other. 

MeloidvE 

Concerning  this  curious  family,  I  take  the  liberty  of 
quoting  at  some  length  from  Sharp's  excellent  account  of 
insects  in  the  Cambridge  Natural  History. 

"This  distinct  family  consists  of  Heteromera  with  soft 
integument,  and  is  remarkable  for  the  fact  that  many  of  its 
members  contain  a  substance  that,  when  extracted  and 
applied  to  the  human  skin,  possesses  the  power  of  raising 
blisters.  The  life-history  is  highly  remarkable,  the  most 
complex  forms  of  hypermetamorphosis  being  exhibited. 
The  species  now  known  amount  to  about  1500.  .  .  .  There 
are  two  very  distinct  subfamilies,  Cantharides  and 
Meloides ;  the  former  are  winged  Insects,  and  are  frequently 
found  on  flowers  or  foliage.  The  Meloides  are  wingless, 
and  consequently  terrestrial;  they  have  a  very  short 
metasternimi,  so  that  the  middle  coxae  touch  the  hind; 
and  they  also  have  very  peculiar  wing-cases,  one  of  the 
two  overlapping  the  other  at  the  base;  in  a  few  Meloids 
the  wing-cases  are  merely  rudiments. 

"The  post-embryonic  development  of  these  Insects  is 
amongst  the  most  remarkable  of  modem  entomological 
discoveries.  The  first  steps  were  made  by  Newport  in 
1 85 1,  and  the  subject  has  since  been  greatly  advanced  by 
Fabre,  Riley,  and  others.  As  an  example  of  these  pecuhar 
histories,  we  may  cite  Riley's  account  of  Epicauta  vittata 
[See  Plate  LXXXV],  a  blister-beetle  living  at  the  expense 
of  North  American  locusts  of  the  genus  Calopternus 
[Melanoplus],  The  locust  lays  its  eggs  undergroimd  in 
masses  surrounded  by  an  irregular  capsule,  and  the  Epicauta 
deposits  its  eggs  in  spots  frequented  by  the  locust,  but  not 
in  special  proximity  to  the  eggs  thereof.  In  a  few  days 
the  eggs  of  the  blister-beetle  hatch,  giving  rise  to  little 
larvae  [a]  of  the  kind  called  triungulin,  because  each  leg  is 

3^7 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


terminated  by  three  tarsal  spines  or  claws.  In  warm, 
suimy  weather  these  triungulins  become  very  active;  they 
run  about  on  the  surface  of  the  ground  exploring  all  its 
cracks,  penetrating  various  spots  and  burrowing,  till  an 
egg-pod  of  the  locust  is  met  with;  into  this  the  triungulin 
at  once  eats  its  way,  and  commences  to  devour  an  egg. 
Should  two  or  more  triungulins  enter  the  same  egg-pod, 
battles  occur  till  one  is  left.  After  a  few  days  passed 
in  devouring  a  couple  of  eggs,  the  triungulin  sheds  its 
skin  and  appears  as  a  different  larva  [b],  with  soft  skin, 
short  legs,  small  eyes,  and  different  form  and  proportions; 
a  second  moult  takes  place  after  about  a  week,  but  is  not 
accompanied  by  any  very  great  change  of  form,  though  the 
larva  is  now  curved,  less  active,  and  in  form  like  a  larva 
of  Scarabaeidae ;  when  another  moult  occurs  the  fourth 
instar  appears  as  a  still  more  helpless  form  of  larva,  which 
increases  rapidly  in  size,  and  when  full  grown  leaves  the 
remains  of  the  egg-pod  it  has  been  living  on,  and  forms  a 
small  cavity  near  by;  here  it  lies  on  one  side  motionless, 
but  gradually  contracting,  till  the  skin  separates  and  is 
pushed  down  to  the  end  of  the  body, disclosing  a  completely 
helpless  creature  [c]  that  has  been  variously  called  a  semi- 
pupa,  pseudo-pupa,  or  coarctate  larva;  in  this  state  the 
winter  is  passed.  In  the  spring  the  skin  of  the  coarctate 
larva  bursts,  and  there  crawls  out  of  it  a  sixth  instar  [d] 
which  resembles  the  fourth,  except  in  the  somewhat 
reduced  size  and  greater  whiteness.  It  is  worthy  of 
remark  that  the  skin  it  has  deserted  retains  its  original  form 
almost  intact.  In  this  sixth  instar  the  larva  is  rather 
active  and  burrows  about,  but  does  not  take  food,  and  in 
the  course  of  a  few  days  again  moults  and  discloses  the  true 
pupa.  As  usual  in  Coleoptera  this  instar  lasts  but  a  short 
time,  and  in  five  or  six  days  the  perfect  beetle  appears. 
It  is  extremely  difficult  to  frame  any  explanation  of  this 
complex  development;  there  are,  it  will  be  noticed,  no  less 
than  five  stages  interposed  between  the  first  larval  instar 
and  the  pupal  instar,  and  the  creature  assumes  in  the 
penultimate  one  a  quasi-pupal  state,  to  again  quit  it  for  a 
return  to  a  previous  state.  It  is  possible  to  look  on  the 
triungulin  and  the  pupal  instars  as  special  adaptations  to 
external  conditions;  but  it  is  not  possible  to  account  for 

388 


Plate  LXXXV 


Meloe 
Qnqusticollis 


EpicQuta 
vitQtto       marqinota 


HvipermeUmorphos'is  o\     EpiCQuta/illatQ 


StL(IopId(ft 


or. 


StrepsipterQ 


Rhipiphorus 
jlQvipennis 


^^ 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


the  intermediate  instars  in  this  way,  and  we  must  look 
on  them  as  necessitated  by  the  physiological  processes' 
going  on  internally.     Nothing,  however,  is  known  as  to 

these." 

Fabre  and  others  have  described  the  European  species 
of  Sitaris  living  in  much  the  same  way  at  the  expense  of 
bees  of  the  genus  Anthophora. 

This  is  our  only  genus  of  the  subfamily 
^®^°^                Meloinse,  or  Meloides  as  it  is  called  in  the 
quotation  from  Sharp.     The  species  are  known  as  Oil- 
beetles;   when   disturbed,   they   give   off  a   disagreeable, 
oily  fluid.     The  short  elytra  do  not  nearly  cover  the  over- 
sized  abdomen.     "The   female    Meloe   is   very   prolific. 
She  lays  at  three  or  four  different  intervals,  in  loose  irregular 
masses  in  the  ground,  and  may  produce  from  three  to 
four  thousand  eggs.     These  are  soft,  whitish,  cylindrical, 
and  rounded  at  each  end.     They  give  birth  to  the  triun- 
guUns,   which  a  few   days  after  hatching— the   number 
depending  on  the  temperature— run  actively  about  and 
climb  on  to  Composite,  Ranunculaceous,  and  other  flowers, 
from  which  they  attach  themselves  to  bees  and  flies  that 
visit  the  flowers.     Fastening  alike  to  many  hairy  Diptera 
and  to  Hymenoptera  which  can  be  of  little  or  no  service 
to  them,  many  are  doomed  to  perish,  and  only  the  few 
fortunate  ones  are  carried  to  the  proper  cells  of  some 
Anthophora''  (Riley).     It  is  probable  that  different  species 
of  Meloe  are  parasitic  on  different  ^ecies  or  even  genera 
of  bees.     Our  species  may  be  differentiated  as  follows : 
I.     Pronotum  not  longer  than  wide • ^' 

Pronotum  longer  than  wide,  sparsely  and  irregularly 
punctate;  color  deep  bluish-black;    elytra   finely  rugose; 

see  Plate  LXXXV angusHcolhs 

2      Color  dull  black ;  pronotum  with  an  impression  on  basal 
half  of  median  line impressus. 

Color  blue  or  bluish-black ;  pronotum  not  impressed . .  3. 
3.    Pronotum  rather  densely  punctate;  elytra  not  roughly 

sculptured ^       j' 

Pronotum  coarsely  and  deeply,  not  densely,  punctured; 
elytra  coarsely  sculptured;  color  more  decidedly  blue  and 
...  ,  .  .amencanus. 

more  shining 

390 


KEY  TO  CERTAIN  MELOIDiC. 


Some   of  our  other  genera,  and    the  more  important 
species,  may  be  separated  as  follows: 

1.  Front  not  prolonged  beyond  the  base  of  the  antennas; 
labrum  (upper  lip)  small,  scarcely  visible.  Tribe  Horiini, 
of  which  Tricrania  sanguinipennis  should  be  looked  for  in 
sandy  places.  It  is  about  .3  in.  long;  black,  with  brick- 
red  elytra. 

Front  prolonged;  labrum  distinct 2. 

2.  Mandibles  prolonged  beyond  the  labrum,  acute  at 
tip 3» 

Mandibles  not  prolonged,  obtuse;  eljrtra  entire; 
antennae  straight,  not  thickened  toward  the  apex.  Tribe 
Cantharini 4» 

3.  Elytra  rudimentary;  no  wings;  tarsal  claws  not  cleft. 
Tribe  Sitarini,  to  which  Hornia  minutipennis  belongs.  It 
is  reddish-brown;  length  about  .7  in.;  parasitic  upon  a 
ground-bee  (Anthophora) . 

Elytra  entire ;  tarsal  claws  cleft.  Tribe  Nemognathini : 
Nemognatha  has  the  outer  lobe  of  the  maxillae  (accessory 
jaws  below  or  behind  the  mandibles)  prolonged ;  it  is  not  so 
in  Zonitis. 

4.  Second  joint  of  antennae  at  least  one-half  as  long  as 
the  third.  Macrobasis.  M.  unicolor:  .3  to  .5  in.  long; 
black,  rather  densely  clothed  with  grayish  hairs,  which 
give  it  an  ashy  color;  second  joint  of  male's  antennae 
slightly  longer  than  the  next  two  and  nearly  twice  as  wide. 
The  adults  occur  on  various  plants  including  potatoes 
and  iron  weed. 

Second  joint  of  antennae  much  less  than  half  the  length 
of  the  third 5* 

5.  Next  to  last  joint  of  tarsi  bilobed Tetraonyx, 

Next  to  last  joint  of  tarsi  cylindrical 6. 

6.  Front  femora  with  a  silken,  hairy  spot  on  the  under 
side;  second  joint  of  antennas  very  short;  mandibles  short. 
Larvae,  as  far  as  known,  feed  on  eggs  of  grasshoppers. 
Epicauta 7* 

Front  femora  without  a  silken,  hairy  spot 13. 

7.  Antennal  joints  of  equal  thickness  throughout,  cylin- 
drical, and  closely  united;  eyes  nearly  as  wide  as  long, 
feebly  or  not  at  all  indented  in  front 8. 

Antennal  joints  on  apical  half  more  slender,  loosely 

391 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


united,  and  more  or  less  compressed;  eyes  always  longer 
than  wide,  indented  in  front lo. 

8.  Head  less  densely  punctured  than  pronotum,  usually  red 
behind  the  eyes,  though  often  wholly  black  or  with  a  small 
red  spot  in  front;  otherwise  black,  clothed  with  short, 
rather  dense,  black  or  gray  pubescence,  which  often  forms 
a  marginal  stripe  and  rarely  a  sutiu-al  line  on  elytra; 
length  about  .4  in.  Adults  on  various  plants,  especially 
Convolvulaceae Epicauta  trichrus. 

Head  and  pronotum  similarly  punctured,  the  former 
always  black;  elytra  clothed  with  dense  gray  or  grayish- 
yellow  pubescence 9. 

9.  Pronotum  longer  than  wide,  densely  pubescent,  with 
a  dark  line  each  side  of  the  middle Epicauta  strigosa. 

Pronotum  as  wide  as  long,  moderately  shining,  rather 
coarsely  and  densely  punctured Epicauta  ferruginea. 

10.  Elytra  clay-yellow  and  black;  see  Plate  LXXXV. 
See  above  for  its  biology.  The  adult  shares  with  Lema 
trilineata  the  name  of  Old-fashioned  Potato-beetle  but 
feeds  also  on  tomatoes  and  various  weeds .  .  Epicauta  vittata. 

Elytra  without  stripes  on  their  middle 11. 

11.  Body  ,  beneath,  clothed  with  gray  pubescence;  elytra 
in  part  or  wholly  pubescent 12. 

Body,  above  and  beneath,  wholly  black;  outer  spur 
of  hind  tibia  broader  than  the  inner;  length,  .3  to  .5  in. 
During  autumn  on  goldenrod  especially;  sometimes 
injures  garden  asters Epicauta  pennsylvanica. 

12.  Elytra  wholly  clothed  with  uniform,  gray  pubescence; 
length,  .4  to  .75  in.     On  potatoes  and  other  plants 

Epicauta  cinerea. 
Elytra   black,    with   gray   margins   and   suture;   see 

Plate  LXXXV.     May  be  only  a  variety  of  cinerea 

Epicauta  marginata. 

13.  Antennae  thread-like,    the   outer   joints  cylindrical. 

Pyrota. 

Antennae  thicker  toward  the  apex,  the  outer  joints 

oval  or  rounded.     Two  genera,  which  will  probably  not  be 

noticed:     Pomphopcea,   with  a   deeply  indented  labrum; 

and  Cantharis,  with  labrum  only  slightly  indented. 


392 


SNOUT=BEETLES  AND  RELATIVES. 


RniPIPHORIDiE 


See  p.  381.  "A  small  family  of  wedge-shaped  beetles 
resembling  the  Mordellidae  in  general  appearance.  .  .  . 
The  adults  occur  on  flowers  and  are  much  less  common 
than  the  Mordellids.  The  larvae  that  are  known  are 
parasitic,  some  in  the  nests  of  wasps  and  others  on  cock- 
roaches" (Blatchley).  See  Rhipiphoriis  flavipennis  on 
Plate  LXXXV. 

RHYNCHOPHORA 

This  suborder,  or  series,  has  never  been  very  popular. 
Furthermore,  the  taxonomy  is  difficult  (possibly  one  of  the 
main  reasons  for  the  unpopularity),  and  these  two  facts 
are  sufficient  excuse  for  giving  short  treatment  here. 
Measurements  of  length  are  from  the  front  margin  of  the 
eye  or  head  (not  the  tip  of  the  beak)  to  the  hindmost  part 
of  the  body.  In  giving  the  key  to  families,  which  is  pre- 
sented here  in  a  slightly  modified  fonn,  Blatchley  and 
Leng  say:  " In  using  this  key  the  student  must  remember 
that  while  the  beak  in  many  Curculionidas  is  so  long, 
slender,  and  cur\^ed  downwards  as  to  permit  of  immediately 
placing  them  in  their  family  position,  there  are  other 
species,  especially  in  the  Otiorhynchinag,  whose  broader 
beaks  would  suggest  their  belonging  to  the  Scolytidas  or 
Anthribids.  In  such  cases,  if  the  antennae  are  elbowed, 
he  must  find  the  serrate  [saw-toothed]  tibiee  that  character- 
ize the  Scolytidas,  or  if  straight,  the  flexible  palpi  that 
characterize  the  Anthribidae;  otherwise  the  specimen 
does  not  belong  to  those  families." 

1.  Beak  rarely  absent,  usually  longer  than  broad;  tibiae 
never  with  a  series  of  teeth  externally 2. 

Beak  absent  or  extremely  short  and  broad;  tibiae  with  a 
series  of  teeth  externally  or,  if  these  are  wanting,  with  a 
prominent  curved  spine  at  apex;  antennas  short,  but  little 
longer  than  the  head,  always  elbowed  and  with  a  compact 
club;  palpi  rigid;  body  short,  more  or  less  cylindrical, 
rarely  oval Scolytid^  (p.  404). 

2.  Antennae  straight,  without  a  distinct  club,  though  with 
the  outer  joints  often  more  or  less  thickened ;  beak  present, 

393 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


at  least  in  female,  and  pointing  directly  forward;  form 
usually  very  slender  and  elongate — Brenthid^  (p.  394). 

Antennae  straight  or  elbowed,  always  with  a  distinct 

club 3. 

3.  Beak  always  short  and  broad;  labrum  (upper  lip) 
present;  antennal  club  rarely  compact;  palpi  flexible; 
pronotum  with  a  transverse,  raised  line  at  or  near  the 
base Anthribid^  (p.  395). 

Beak  variable  in  length,  often  long  and  curved  down- 
wards; labrum  absent  except  in  the  subfamily  Rhinom- 
acerinas;  antennal  club  usually  compact;  palpi  rigid 

CURCULIONID^  (p.  395). 

Brenthid.^ 

The  only  northern  species  seems  to  be  Eupsalis  minuta 
(Plate  LXXXVI).  It  varies  in  length  from  about  .25 
to  nearly  .75  in.  The  color  varies  from  reddish-brown 
to  black;  elytra  with  narrow,  longitudinal,  yellowish 
spots,  which  are  often  united  to  form  two  or  three  cross- 
bars. The  length  of  the  elytra  is  more  than  twice  their 
combined  width,  and  the  pronotum  is  longer  than  broad. 
The  mandibles  of  the  male  are  curved,  flattened,  pointed, 
toothed  on  the  inner  edge;  those  of  the  female  are  small 
and  pincer-shaped,  at  the  end  of  a  slender  beak.  The 
female  uses  this  beak  to  bore  deep  holes  in  the  wood  be- 
neath the  bark  of  dead  trees  and  she  frequently  takes  the 
better  part  of  a  day  at  each  hole,  afterwards  laying  one 
egg  in  it.  It  is  said  that  a  male  stands  guard  during  the 
operation  "occasionally  assisting  the  female  in  extracting 
her  beak;  this  he  does  by  stationing  himself  at  a  right 
angle  with  her  body,  and  by  pressing  his  heavy  prostemum 
against  the  tip  of  her  abdomen ;  her  stout  forelegs  serving 
as  a  fulcrum  and  her  long  body  as  a  lever.  When  the 
beak  is  extracted,  the  female  uses  her  antennae  for  freeing 
the  pincers  or  jaws  of  bits  of  wood  or  dust,  the  antenn£e 
being  furnished  with  stiff  hairs  and  forming  an  excellent 
brush.  Should  a  strange  male  approach,  a  heavy  contest 
at  once  ensues,  and  continues  imtil  one  or  the  other  is 
thrown  from  the  tree.  The  successful  party  then  takes  his 
station  as  guard"  (Howard).     The  larvae  make  extensive 

394 


SNOUT=BEETLES  AND  RELATIVES. 


galleries  in  the  solid  wood  of  oak,  also  of  chestnut,  maple,, 
and  other  deciduous  trees. 


Anthribid^ 

Some  recent  authorities  use  the  name  Polystomidae. 
These  beetles  are  usually  found  on  dead  wood  or  on  those 
fungi  which  grow  on  trees.  Little  is  known  of  their  life 
histories.  Eurymycter  fasciatus  is  about  .3  in.  long  and 
has  a  conspicuous  patch  of  white  pubescence  on  the  beak 
as  well  as  a  broad,  white  band  across  the  elytra.  Brachy- 
tarsus  sticticus  is  not  over  .15  in.  long,  and  breeds  in  the 
smut  of  com  and  wheat.  Euparius  marmoreus,  sooty 
brown  mottled  with  gray,  is  very  common  on  tough 
fungus  on  fallen  logs,  its  color  matching  well  with  its 
surroundings. 

CuRCULIONIDiE 

Tliis  is  a  very  large  family,  more  than  20,000  species 
ha\T.ng  been  described  to  date.  The  maggot-like  larv^ae 
have  no  more  than  bristly  elevations  for  legs;  the  front 
part  of  the  body  is  usually  the  thickest  and,  when  at  rest, 
the  larvas  are  usually  curled  like  a  C.  Pupation  usually 
occurs  where  the  larvas  live  but  some  species  pupate  in  the 
ground.     Thirteen  subfamilies  are  recognized  as  follows: 

1.  Antennae  straight,  the  beak  not  grooved  to  receive 
them 2. 

Antennae  more  or  less  completely  elbowed,  the  beak 
grooved  to  receive  them  when  at  rest;  antennal  club 
compact 9* 

2.  Antennal  club  composed  of  completely  separated 
joints 3» 

Club  composed  of  compactly  united  joints 6. 

3.  Thorax  without  side  margin 4* 

Thorax    acutely   margined    and    excavated    beneath; 

three  abdominal  segments  show  beyond  tip  of  abdomen. 
Pterocolinae,  of  which  only  Pterocolus  ovatus  is  known  from 
the  eastern  United  States.  It  is  blue,  less  than  .17  in. 
long. 

395 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


4.  Labnmi  present;  palpi  well  developed,  flexible;  form 
elongate-oval.     Feed  on  the  staminate  flowers  of  conifers. 

Rhinomacerinae. 
Labmm  absent;  palpi  short,  rigid 5. 

5.  Mandibles  flat,  toothed  on  inner  and  outer  sides; 
tibiae  with  short  terminal  spurs  at  tip;  claws  free,  bifid 
or  acutely  toothed;  form  usually  elongate-oval,  somewhat 
depressed.  Rhynchitinaj.  Rhynchites  hicolor  (elytra,  pro- 
notum  and  head,  back  of  eyes,  red,  otherwise  black;  length 
.25  in.)  breeds  in  the  "hips"  of  roses. 

Mandibles  stout,  pincer-shaped ;  tibiae  armed  at  tip 
with  two  strong  hooks;  claws  united  at  base;  form  short- 
oval,  robust Attelabinas  (p.  398). 

6.  Tip  of  abdomen  covered  by  elytra;  trochanters  large, 
femora  attached  to  their  apex;  form  pear-shaped;  not  over 
.2  in.  long.  Apioninae.  There  are  many  species  of  Apion, 
one  of  which  is  abundant  in  late  summer  on  Wild  Indigo. 
Podapion  gallicola  makes  rather  spherical  galls  on  pine 
twigs,  and  is  rare. 

Tip  of  abdomen  exposed ;  trochanters  small 7. 

7.  First  joint  of  antennae  longer  than  the  second 8. 

First  joint  of  antennas  no  longer  than  the  second; 

beak  short,  broad;  hind  coxae  very  widely  separated;  legs 
elongate,  clasping;  length  less  than  .13  in.  Tachygoninae, 
the  only  genus  being  Tachygonus. 

8.  Hind  femora  very  broad,  their  outer  margin  strongly 
curved,  wrinkled;  beak  very  slender,  cyHndrical;  length 
about  .14  in.  Allocorhyninae,  Allocorhynus  slossoni  from 
Florida  being  the  only  known  eastern  species. 

Hind  femora  normal;  beak  short  and  broad;  length  .5 
in.  or  more.  Ithycerinae,  the  large  Ithycerus  novehoracensis 
being  the  only  known  eastern  species. 

9.  Antennal  club  usually  ringed,  not  shining ;  tarsi  usually 
dilated,  third  joint  bilobed,  brush-like  beneath,  though 
narrow  and  setose  in  some  more  or  less  aquatic  species; 
abdomen  of  male  with  an  extra  anal  segment 10. 

Antennal  club  with  its  basal  joint  usually  enlarged  or 
shining  or  both,  feebly  or  not  at  all  ringed;  tarsi  frequently 
narrow,  not  brush-like  beneath 12. 

10.  Prostemum  simple,  or  grooved  to  receive  the  beak, 
not  forming  a  triangular  plate  in  front  of  the  coxae 11. 

396 


Plate  LXXXVI 


Conotrachelus 
nenuphar 


CQlondro 


Calandro 
oryzQ^ 


Bolaninus 
proboscoiaeus 


ElipSQllS 

minuta 


Scolytus  ruqulosus 


Attelobus. 
rhois 


397 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Prostemum  forming  a  triangular  plate  in  front  of  the 
coxae;  beak  received  in  the  breast  in  repose;  tarsi  narrow, 
not  dilated.  Thecesteminae.  Thecesternus  humeralis  of  the 
Mississippi  Valley  is  the  most  eastern,  known  species. 

1 1 .  Beak  never  long  and  slender ;  mandibles  with  a  decidu- 
ous cusp,  leaving  a  scar Otiorhynchin^  (p.  399). 

Beak  usually  elongate,  slender  or,  if  short  and  stout, 
received  in  the  breast  in  repose.  .  .  .  CurcuHoninas  (p.  400). 

12.  Tip  of  abdomen  covered  by  elytra.  Cossoninae. 
The  shining,  black  species  of  Cossonus,  about  .25  in.  long, 
are  sometimes  found  in  numbers  under  bark. 

Tip  of  abdomen  not  covered  by  elytra 

Calandrinae  (p.  403). 

Attelabinse 

This  is  a  small  family  of  small  beetles.  The  larvae  feed 
on  the  inside  of  "houses"  prepared  for  them  by  their 
mothers.  Pupation  is  said  to  take  place  underground.  I 
quote  concerning  Attelahus  rhois  (Plate  LXXXVI)  from 
the  Fifth  Report  of  the  U.  S.  Entomological  Commission, 
a  most  excellent  account  of  insects  injurious  to  forest  and 
shade  trees  by  A.  S.  Packard.  "The  singular  thimble- 
like rolls  of  this  weevil  may  be  found  in  June  and  July 
on  the  alder,  and  also  occur  on  the  hazel,  according  to 
LeConte  [I  have  found  them  in  large  numbers  on  hazel]. 
When  about  to  lay  her  eggs,  the  female  begins  to  eat  a  sHt 
near  the  base  of  the  leaf  on  each  side  of  the  midrib,  and  at 
right  angles  to  it,  so  that  the  leaf  may  be  folded  together. 
Before  beginning  to  roll  up  the  leaf  she  gnaws  the  stem 
nearly  off,  so  that  after  the  roll  is  made,  and  has  dried 
for  perhaps  a  day,  it  is  easily  detached  by  the  wind  and 
falls  to  the  ground.  When  folding  the  leaf,  she  tightly 
rolls  it  up,  neatly  tucking  in  the  ends,  until  a  compact, 
cylindrical  soHd  mass  of  vegetation  is  formed.  Before 
the  leaf  is  entirely  rolled  she  deposits  a  single  egg,  rarely 
two,  in  the  middle  next  to  the  midrib,  where  it  hes  loosely 
in  a  little  cavity.  While  all  this  is  going  on  her  consort 
stands  near  by  and  she  occasionally  runs  to  him  to  receive 
his  caresses,  to  again  resume  her  work."  As  we  have  but  a 
single  genus,  Attelahus,  and  the  habits  are  so  interesting, 

398 


NEST-MAKINQ  SNOUT-BEETLES. 


a 


modification  of  Blatchley  and  Leng's  key  to  our  species 

is  given. 

1.  Surface  shiny;  color,  above,  either  mainly  bright  red 

or  black i'  '••.'"•'*    u  * 

Surface  pubescent;  dull  red   (rarely  blackish  m  the 
melanic  northern  form);  length  about  .2  in rhois. 

2.  Elytra  bright  red  (except  see  analis) 3- 

Black,   faintly  bluish,   with  a  reddish  spot  on  each 

shoulder;  length  usually  not  .17  in.;  front  femora  with  a 
small,  acute  tooth.     Nests  in  April  and  May,  on  oak.  .  .  . 

bipustulatus. 

3.  Front  femora  slender,  not  toothed  in  male;  elytra, 
pronotum,  base  of  head,  prostemum,  and  abdomen  bright 
red  (variety  similis  is  darker);  rest  of  body,  including 
appendages,  blue-black;  length  rarely  less  than  .2  in.  It 
rolls  the  leaves  of  oak,  possibly  also  of  sumac,  hickory, 

and  wahiut ^"^^f" 

Front  femora  stout,  two-toothed  m  males;  color  like 
analis  except  that  all  of  the  under  surface  of  the  body  is 
usually  dull  red;  length  usually  less  than  .2  in.  Sumac  is 
probably  its  only  food-plant  although  adults  occur  on  oak 
and  other  trees nigripes. 

Otiorhynchiaae 

Some  authors  give  these  insects  the  rank  of  a  family, 
Psallidiidse.  The  deciduous  cusps  of  the  mandibles, 
mentioned  in  the  key  to  subfamiHes,  are  teeth  which  are 
probably  useful  to  the  beetle  in  getting  out  of  the  pupal 
case.  They  are  soon  lost  but  leave  a  "scar, "  often  difficult 
to  make  out,  on  the  front  of  each  mandible.  Of  the 
numerous  species,  the  following  deserve  special  mention. 

EpiccBrus  imhricatus  is  a  little  less  than  .5  in.  long; 
greenish-brown;  when  fresh,  there  is  a  median,  longitudinal 
stripe  of  white  scales  on  the  pronotum,  two  irregular,  white 
cross-bands  on  the  el>-tra;  the  under  surface  and  legs  are 
nearly  white.  The  adult  feeds  on  a  variety  of  plants, 
sometimes  defoliating  strawberries. 

Species  of  Otiorhynchus  have  two  short,  fixed  spurs  on 
each  hind  tibia;  the  tarsi  are  dilated,  spong\^-pubescent 
beneath,   the   third   joint   deeply   bilobed;   the   eyes   are 

399 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


rounded  or  slightly  oval;  the  beak  is  as  long  as  the  head, 
more  or  less  dilated,  and  notched  at  the  tip.  0.  sulcatus 
and  ovatus  have  the  hind  femora  distinctly  toothed.  0. 
sulcatus  is  brownish-black;  about  .3  in.  long;  the  femoral 
tooth  is  small  and  acute ;  the  prothorax  is  rather  cylindrical ; 
elytra  with  small,  remote  patches  of  short,  yellowish  hair; 
the  tip  of  the  beak  has  a  forked  ridge.  The  larva  eats  off 
the  roots  of  strawberry  and,  in  greenhouses,  other  plants. 
It  is  usually  not  so  troublesome  in  this  way  as  ovatus, 
which  is  shiny  black  with  reddish-brown  legs  and  antennae; 
length  a  trifle  less  than  .25  in.;  the  femoral  tooth  large;  tip 
of  beak  not  ridged;  prothorax  rather  globose;  short,  yellow- 
ish hairs  on  the  prothorax  and  also  on  the  elytra.  Neither 
species  have  wings  and  both  occur  also  in  Europe.  The 
adults  have  a  troublesome  habit,  shared  by  some  other 
weevils,  of  nibbling  at  tender  shoots,  causing  serious 
damage  at  times  to  ornamental  shrubs. 

Curculioninae 

This  subfamily  contains  the  great  majority  of  the 
species,  only  a  few  of  which  can  be  mentioned  here. 

Hyper  a  [Phytonomous]  punctata  is  the  Clover-leaf  Beetle. 
The  larvag  hibernate  in  the  stems  and  among  the  old 
leaves  of  clover. 

Many  species  of  Listronotus  and  Hyperodes  feed  on 
aquatic  plants. 

The  genus  Balaninus  contains  the  Nut  and  Acorn  Wee- 
vils. The  species  have  a  bulky  body  and  a  long,  slender 
beak,  which  is  longer  than  the  body  in  the  females  of  some 
species.  It  is  used  for  drilling  holes  in  nuts  or  acorns  in 
order  that  eggs  may  be  placed  in  the  kernel.  The  mouth 
parts  at  the  end  of  the  beak  work  vertically,  instead  of 
horizontally.  Davis  has  noted  that  squirrels  are  fond  of 
eating  the  larvae,  slightly  opening  many  acorns,  only  to 
discard  them  if  no  larvae  are  present.  B.  prohoscideus 
(Plate  LXXXVI)  is  .3  in.,  or  more,  in  length  (the  beak 
is  not  included  in  these  measurements) ;  dark  brown,  densely 
but  irregularly  clothed  with  yellowish,  scale-like  hairs; 
the  second  antennal  joint  longer  than  the  third ;  the  beak  of 
the  female  often  nearly  twice  as  long  as  the  body.     The 

400 


NUT  AND  ACORN  WEEVILS. 


female  lays  its  eggs  in  chestnuts  by  drilling  a  hole  through 
the  burr.  When  the  nuts  fall,  the  larvai  leave  to  hibernate 
underground,  pupating  the  next  July.  The  Lesser  Chest- 
nut Weevil,  B.  algonquimis,  is  rarely  .33  in.  long;  black, 
with  brownish  scales;  pronotum  with  a  paler  line  near 
each  side;  elytra  with  numerous,  pale,  yellow  spots,  which 
sometimes  form  bands;  second  antennal  joint  shorter  than 
the  third ;  beak  of  female  nearly  twice  as  long  as  the  body. 
It  usually  lays  its  eggs  in  the  chestnuts  after  the  burrs  are 
opened  and  the  larvae  remain  there  all  winter,  unless  eaten. 
B.  carycB  is  the  Hickory-nut  and  Pecan  Weevil.  The 
adult  is  about  .3  in.  long;  brownish,  with  sparse,  yellowish 
hairs.  B.  ohtusus  is  the  Hazel-nut  Weevil.  The  infested 
nuts  fall  early.  Most  of  our  other  species  feed  on  acorns. 
B.  rectus  has  a  beak  which,  in  the  female,  is  nearly  twice 
the  length  of  the  body  but  in  the  other  acom-eating  species 
the  beak  is  relatively  shorter.  B.  rectus  has  "the  habit, 
not  known  in  the  other  species,  of  sealing  the  egg-hole 
with  excrement,  thus  forming  a  whitish  spot." 

TacJiypterus  [A  nthonomus]  quadrigihhus  is  the  Apple 
Curculio.  It  is  dark  red;  about  .17  in.  long;  pronotum 
with  tliree  lines  of  white  pubescence;  each  elytron  with 
two  prominent  tubercles  toward  the  back.  The  larvae 
feed  for  about  three  weeks  in  the  flesh  of  green  apples  and 
pupate  there.  Even  more  damage  is  done  by  the  adults 
which  feed  on  tender  shoots  or  puncture  the  ripening  fruit 
in  order  to  feed,  causing  it  to  become  "dimpled  and 
gnarled."     Adults  hibernate. 

Anthonomus  signatus  is  the  Strawberry  Weevil.  It  is 
not  over  .13  in.  long.  The  injury  is  done  by  the  females, 
which  lay  their  eggs  in  the  strawberry  buds  and  then  cut 
the  stems  so  that  the  buds  fall  to  the  ground.  A  nthonomus 
grandis,  the  Cotton-boll  Weevil,  has  cost  Texas  alone  more 
than  $150,000,000.  It  is  a  Mexican  insect  that  spread 
northward  throughout  practically  the  whole  of  the  cotton 
belt,  due  to  the  short-sightedness  of  legislatures  in  neither 
appropriating  sufficient  money  nor  passing  stringent  enough 
laws  to  control  it  at  the  start. 

Ampeloglypter  sesostris  is  pale  reddish-brown,  about 
.12  in.  long.  It  lays  its  eggs  in  grape  canes,  giving  rise 
to  galls  about  tv/ice  the  diameter  of  the  cane  and  an  inch 
26  401 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


or  so  long,  with  a  deep  scar  on  one  side.  There  are  usually 
a  number  of  these  galls  in  a  row.  A.  ater  is  much  like  it, 
but  black.  Its  female  also  lays  her  eggs  in  grapevines  but, 
instead  of  putting  them  in  a  longitudinal  line,  she  deposits 
them  in  a  circle  around  the  cane,  girdling  the  vine  so  that 
it  breaks  off. 

Trichobaris  trinotata  is  about  .14  in.  long;  black,  with 
white,  scale-like  hairs,  except  on  the  scutellum  and  two 
spots  on  the  pronotum.  Its  larva  is  the  Potato-stalk 
Borer  but  it  also  lives  in  nettle. 

Craponius  incequalis,  the  Grape  Curculio,  is  not  over 
.13  in.  long;  dark  brown,  with  scattered  patches  of  whitish 
hairs.  The  hibernated  adults  feed  on  grape  leaves  until 
the  berries  are  about  a  fourth  grown  when  the  female  lays 
her  eggs  in  them,  the  larvae  feeding  on  the  seeds,  and 
dropping  to  the  ground  to  pupate  under  stones,  and  the 
like,  or  just  below  the  surface. 

Ceutorhyncus  rapcB  larvae  live  in  the  seed  stalks  of 
cabbage  but  more  often  in  wild  Crucifers. 

Conotrachelus  nenuphar  (Plate  LXXXVI)  is  the  Plum 
Curculio  but  it  breeds  also  in  peach,  cherry,  and  apple, 
causing  an  annual  loss  in  the  United  States  of  more  than 
$8,000,000.  It  is  about  .25  in.  long;  dark  brown,  varied 
with  black;  pubescence  brownish-yellow,  forming  a  curved, 
forked  line  on  each  side  of  the  pronotimi ;  an  elytral  band  of 
yellow  and  white  hairs  back  of  the  middle.  "The  adults 
hibernate,  and  issue  from  their  winter  quarters  about 
the  time  the  trees  are  in  bloom,  feeding  on  the  tender 
foliage,  buds,  and  blossoms.  Later  they  attack  the  newly 
set  fruit,  cutting  small  circular  holes  through  the  skin 
in  feeding,  while  the  females,  in  the  operation  of  egg-laying, 
make  the  small,  crescent-shaped  punctures  so  commonly 
found  on  plums  and  other  stone  fruits.  The  egg,  deposited 
under  the  skin  of  the  fruit,  soon  hatches  into  a  very  small 
whitish  grub,  which  makes  its  way  into  the  flesh  of  the 
fruit.  Here  it  feeds  greedily  and  grows  rapidly,  becoming, 
in  the  course  of  a  fortnight,  the  fat,  dirty  white  'worm' 
so  well  known  to  fruit  growers.  When  the  larva  obtains 
full  growth,  which  requires  some  twelve  to  eighteen  days, 
it  bores  its  way  out  of  the  fruit  and  enters  the  soil,  where  it 
forms  an  earthen  cell  in  which  to  pupate." 

402 


BILL-BUGS  AND  QRAIN=WEEVILS. 


Strawberry  plants  are  often  dwarfed  or  killed  by  the 
larvae  of  Tyloderma  fragrance,  which  mine  out  the  interior 
of  the  crown. 

Calandrinae 

This  rather  small  group,  also  called  Rhynchophoridas, 
of  usually  large  (relative  to  other  Curculionidas)  beetles 
are  the  Bill-Bugs  and  Grain- Weevils.  The  larvas  of  the 
larger  species  bore  into  the  stems  of  plants;  those  of  the 
smaller  ones  feed  on  seeds  and  grain.  Rhynchophorus 
cruentatus  is  usually  more  than  .75  in.  long,  shiny  black 
or  partly  red,  and  lives  in  the  cabbage  palmetto  of  the 
Southern  States.  It  is  the  largest  of  our  species.  The 
antennal  club  is  wedge-shaped  in  Rhodobcenus  (third  tarsal 
joint  broad,  spongy  beneath,  the  brush  narrowly  divided) 
and  Sphenophorus  (this  joint  smooth,  at  least  in  the 
middle) ;  the  species  of  each  are  .2  in.,  or  more,  long.  The 
antennal  club  of  Calandra  is  oval,  and  the  species  are 
smaller.  Rhodobcsnus  ij-punctatus  is  black  beneath; 
above,  red  with  five  black  spots  on  the  pronotum  and  a 
number  of  more  or  less  confluent  ones  on  the  elytra.  It 
breeds  in  the  stems  of  a  variety  of  weeds.  An  allied  species 
attacks  sugar  cane  in  the  West  Indies. 

^  ,         ,  There  are  a  large  number  of  species,  and 

Sphenophorus  . 

their     differentiation     is     difficult.     "The 

corn  bill-bugs  (or  'elephant  bugs'),  as  the  species  of 
Sphenophorus  are  commonly  called,  pass  the  winter  in  the 
imago  [adult]  stage  among  dead  leaves  and  rubbish,  and 
lay  eggs  early  in  the  following  summer,  beginning  probably 
in  May.  The  larvae  hatch  in  June,  feed  on  the  bulbous 
roots  of  grasses  and  grass-like  plants,  including  com, 
pass  into  the  pupal  stage  in  July,  and  begin  to  emerge  as 
imagoes  late  in  July,  continuing  into  August  and  possibly 
for  some  time  thereafter.  The  normal  food  plants  are 
wild  grasses,  especially  those  with  bulbous  roots"  (Blatch- 
ley  and  Leng). 


403 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Two  cosmopolitan  species  may  be  men- 
tioned. C.  granaria,  probably  the  first 
beetle  to  attract  man's  notice,  is  about  .13  in.  long;  chest- 
nut-brown to  black,  moderately  shining;  the  pronotum 
with  coarse,  oval  punctures;  the  elytra  with  small  punctures 
in  the  longitudinal  grooves.  It  is  wingless  and  is  found 
about  granaries  or  wherever  grain  goes.  The  larvae  live 
inside  the  kernels,  a  single  grain  of  wheat  being  food 
enough  for  one.  This  does  not  sound  very  destructive, 
but  the  females  are  prolific  and  there  are  from  three  to 
probably  more  than  six  generations  a  3'ear.  Authorities 
have  estimated  that  its  food  costs  us  about  twenty  million 
dollars  a  year.  C.  oryzcs  (Plate  LXXXVI)  is  called  the 
Rice  Weevil  and  is  probably  a  native  of  India  but  now 
infests  all  sorts  of  stored  grain  in  this  country.  It  is  less 
than  .13  in.  long;  reddish-brown  to  black,  not  shining; 
each  elytron  with  two  reddish  spots.  It  is  more  apt  to  be 
found  in  crackers  and  packages  of  cereals  than  is  granaria. 

ScOLYTIDiE 

The  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture  has  stated  that  if 
the  timber  destroyed  by  Scolytidae  in  the  United  States 
during  the  past  fifty  years  were  hving  to-day,  its  stumpage 
value  would  be  more  than  $1,000,000,000.  For  the  most 
part,  these  beetles  live  between  the  bark  and  the  wood, 
making  galleries  which  are  often  quite  characteristic  of  the 
particular  species  that  fashioned  them  and  which  cause 
the  insects  to  be  called  Engraver  Beetles.  The  insects 
are  small  and  their  taxonomy  is  difficult.  The  eyes  are 
usually  oblong  (see  Bostrychid^e).  The  following  sub- 
families have  been   recognized. 

1.  Anterior  tarsi  with  the  first  joint  longer  than  the  next 
three  combined.  Platypodinae,  of  which  our  only  genus  is 
Platypus.  They  frequently  come  to  light  in  the  Southern 
States. 

Anterior  tarsi  with  first  joint  shorter  than  the  next' 
three  combined 2. 

2.  Anterior  tibiae  with  a  prominent  process  on  the  outer 
apical  angle Scolytinae. 

Anterior  tibias  without  such  a  process Ipinae. 

404 


ENGRAVER  BEETLES. 


Scolytus  rugulosus  (Plate  LXXXVI),  the  Fniit-tree 
Bark-beetle,  is  typical  of  the  Scolytinae.  The  numerous 
small  "worm-holes,"  which  make  the  outside  of  the  bark 
look  as  if  it  had  received  a  load  of  shot,  are  formed  by  the 
adults  in  boring  out.  Each  female  then  burrows  in  at  a 
new  place  and  eats  a  vertical  tunnel  partly  in  the  bark  and 
partly  in  the  sap-wood.  Along  the  sides  of  this  tunnel 
she  makes  small  pockets  and  puts  an  egg  in  each.  The 
young  larvae  tunnel  at  right  angles  to  the  "broad  burrow" 
and  each  pupates  at  the  end  of  its  own  burrow.  When  the 
adults  emerge  from  these  pupae,  they  bore  straight  out 
and  so  give  the  tree  the  "  shot "  appearance.  If  the  insects 
are  very  numerous,  their  galleries  girdle  the  tree  and  it 
dies,  although  it  happens  that  this  particular  species 
usually  works  in  trees  that  are  dying  from  some  other 
cause.  S.  4-spinosus  terribly  damages  the  hickory  trees 
near  New  York  and  its  "bird-shot"  emergence  holes  are  a 
common  sight. 

The  subfamily  Ipinas  contains  most  of  our  species. 
Their  food-habits  are  various  but  they  usually  live  in 
trees,  some  in  the  solid  wood  instead  of  just  beneath  the 
bark.  It  should  be  said  that  many,  especially  those  living 
in  diseased  wood,  seem  to  feed  more  on  the  fungus  ("am- 
brosia") which  grows  in  their  galleries  than  they  do  on  the 
wood.  Probably  emerging  females  carry,  but  not  inten- 
tionally, the  spores  of  these  fungi  when  they  leave  their 
childhood  homes  to  start  new  establishments. 


Strepsiptera 

These  curious  creatures  are  put  in  a  separate  order,  as 
here,  by  some  good  authorities,  while  others  class  them  as  a 
family,  Stylopidas,  of  heteromerous  beetles.  They  are  all 
parasitic  upon  other  insects.  The  females  are  wingless 
and  Plate  LXXXV  shows  one  sticking  out  of  the  abdomen 
of  a  wasp.  The  same  plate  shows  a  typical  winged  male, 
greatly  enlarged. 

405 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Hymenoptera 


To  the  layman  these  are  the  Saw-flies,  Ants,  Bees,  and 
Wasps;  the  last-mentioned  name  referring  principally  to 
the  Vespoidea  and  Sphecoidea,  and  only  in  a  hazy  way  to 
the  large  number  of  other  Hymenoptera  which  are  neither 
ants  nor  bees.  The  State  Geological  and  Natural  History 
Survey  of  Connecticut  has  recently  published  a  large 
Guide  to  the  Hymenoptera  of  that  State  by  H.  L.  Viereck 
and  others.  The  more  special  students  of  taxonomy  are 
referred  to  this  and  from  it  I  have  drawn  freely  for  the 
few  remarks  on  classification  which  space  permits  us. 

The  notes  on  wing-venation  refer  to  the  front  wings. 
The  following  names  (see  the  text-figure)  are  the  ones 


used  here:  -4,  stigma;  5,  costal  vein;  C,  subcostal  vein; 
Dy  marginal  vein;  E,  transverse  cubital  veins;  F,  basal 
vein;  G  and  H,  first  and  second  recurrent  veins;  /,  subdis- 
coidal  vein ;  /,  discoidal  vein ;  K,  cubital  vein ;  a,  marginal 
cell;  6,  median  cell;  c,  d,  e,  and/,  first,  second,  third,  and 
fourth  submarginal  or  cubital  cells;-  g,  submedian  cell; 
h,  i,  j,  first,  second,  and  third  discoidal  cells. 

Hymenoptera  are  divided  into  a  number  of  super- 
families,  which  may  be  roughly  characterized  as  follows, 
the  order  not  being  natural  but  for  convenience. 


406 


ANTS,  BEES,  AND  WASPS. 


(a)  TENTHREDINOIDEA.— No  marked  constriction 
between  the  thorax  and  abdomen,  the  abdomen  being 
broadly  joined  to  the  thorax;  trochanters  (the  part  between 
the  basal  joint  and  the  long  femur)  two-jointed.  Saw- 
flies;  see  p.  408. 

In  the  groups  &  to  j  there  is  a  marked  constriction 
between  the  thorax  and  abdomen,  the  two  being  joined 
by  a  relatively  thin  stem  (petiole  or  pedicel),  which  may 
be  either  very  short  or  long. 

(b)  CHALCIDOI DBA.— Usually  less  than  an  eighth  of 
an  inch  in  length  and  metallic  in  appearance;  trochanters 
two-jointed;  antennas  elbowed,  with  one  or  more  ring-like 
segments  between  the  shaft  and  lash;  wings,  if  any,  with 
but  few  veins;  wingless  forms  with  indistinct  or  no  ocelli; 
female's  ovipositor  issuing  from  the  ventral  surface  of  the 
abdomen  some  distance  before  the  tip.     See  p.  414. 

(c)  SERPHOIDEA.— The  Pelecinidas  have  one-jointed 
trochanters;  abdomen,  and  also  antennae,  long  and  slender; 
black;  front  wings  with  no  closed  submarginal  cells.  The 
others  have  two- jointed  trochanters;  body  not  metallic, 
usually  black  with  sometimes  brown  or  red;  antennae 
straight  or,  if  elbowed,  without  the  ring-like  segments; 
the  wingless  forms  with  distinct  ocelli;  ovipositor  issuing 
from  the  tip  of  the  abdomen.     See  p.  415. 

(d)  CYNIPOIDEA. — Trochanters  two-jointed;  antennae 
with  not  more  than  16  joints;  front  wings,  if  present, 
without  stigma  (a  thickening  of  the  costal  vein  at  about 
two-thirds  of  the  way  along  the  front  margin  of  the  front  _ 
wing)  but  usually  with  one  or  more  closed  cells;  antennae 
straight;  body  "flea-like."     See  p.  414. 

(e)  ICHNEUMONOIDEA.— Trochanters  two-jointed 
(except  in  rare  forms);  antennas  with  more  than  16  joints; 
front  wings,  if  present,  with  a  stigma  and  one  or  more 
closed  cells;  antennas  straight.     See  p.  411. 

In  groups  /  to  j  the  trochanters  are  always  one-jointed. 

(/)  CHRYSIDOIDEA.— Only  three  abdominal  segments 
visible;  bright  green,  bluish,  or  golden;  antennae  short  and 
elbowed;  front  wings  with  no  closed  submarginal  cells. 
See  p.  424. 

(g)  FORMICOIDEA.— First  apparent  abdominal  seg- 
ment (sometimes  also  the  second)  forming  a  lens-shaped 

407 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


scale  or  knot,  strongly  differentiated  from  the  rest  of  the 
abdomen.  (In  what  follows  I  will  leave  off  the  word 
"apparent";  really  the  first  abdominal  segment  of  all 
but  the  Tenthredinoidea  is  so  closely  fused  to  the  thorax 
that  it  does  not  appear  as  part  of  the  abdomen  and  may, 
for  practical  purposes,  be  forgotten.)  The  Formicoidea 
are  the  True  Ants  and  the  workers  are  always  wingless. 
Seep.  415. 

In  groups  h  toj  the  petiole  is  not  scale-like  or  nodiform; 
body  often  hairy. 

(h)  APOIDEA.— First  segment  of  hind  tarsus  (basi- 
or  metatarsus)  expanded,  flattened,  and  usually  very 
hairy;  trochanters  one-jointed;  many  of  the  hairs  branched; 
adults  always  winged.     Bees;  see  p.  439. 

In  groups  i  and  j  (as  well  as  in  other  Hymenoptera 
which  are  not  bees),  the  basitarsus  is  not  as  described  for 
bees  and  the  body-hairs  are  not  branched. 
,  (i)  VESPOIDEA.— Pronotum  extending  back  so  that 
its  hind  angles  or  tubercles  touch  or  reach  above  the 
tegulae  (scale-like  bodies,  one  in  front  of  the  base  of  each 
wing) ;  wingless  forms  are  densely  hairy;  some  of  the  winged 
forms  fold  the  front  wings  longitudinally  when  at  rest. 
Seep.  425. 

(J)  SPHECOIDEA. — Hind  angles  of  pronotum  remote 
from  tegulae  and  on  a  lower  level  (this  is  true  also  of  the 
bees);  never  wingless;  front  wings  never  folded.  See 
p.  430. 

TENTHREDINOIDEA 

The  ovipositor  of  the  female  Saw-fly  consists  of  an 
external,  flattened  plate  on  each  side  ("saw-guides") 
and  two  flattened,  pointed,  yellowish  plates  ("saws") 
between  them.  The  larvae  either  feed  on  the  leaves  of 
plants  or  within  their  stems,  including  tree-trunks;  some 
of  them  make  galls.  Saw-fly  larvae  have  only  one  oceUus 
on  each  side  of  the  head,  whereas  caterpillars  have  several; 
also  their  abdominal  legs,  if  present,  do  not  have  the  circles 
of  booklets  possessed  by  Lepidoptera.  The  larvae  of 
Siricidae  and  Cephidae  are  practically  legless;  when  saw- 
fly  larvae  have  abdominal  legs,  there  is  always  a  pair  on 

40S 


Plate  LXXXVII 


Cimbex  omericonQ 


urotoma 
fosciato 


,     ,        PteronJdea 
Tremex  col  umbo  ribe^i 


409 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


the  fifth  segment;  larvae  of  some  of  the  Tenthredinidae 
have  as  many  as  eleven  pairs  of  legs,  including  those  on 
the  thorax. 

Our  few  species  of  Xyelid^  may  be  known  by  their 
antennae:  the  third  of  the  more  than  three  segments 
usually  being  longer  than  all  the  following  segments  put 
together.     The  larvae  feed  externally  on  various  trees. 

The  hind  margin  of  the  pronotum  of  the  Pamphiliid^e 
is  scarcely  indented.  A  common  species  is  Neurotoma 
fasciata  (Plate  LXXXVII)  whose  larvae  web  the  leaves 
of  wild  cherry. 

In  the  following  families  the  pronotum  is  frequently  so 
indented  that  the  middle  portion  seems  absent. 

The  anterior  tibiae  of  the  Tenthredinid^  have  two 
apical  spurs,  while  those  of  the  following  families  have 
but  one.  This  is  a  very  large  family,  including  most  of 
the  saw-flies.  The  following  notes  on  larval  food-habits 
are  merely  suggestive:  Diprion  on  conifers;  Dolerus  are 
grass-feeders;  Endelomyia  cethiops  is  a  common  rose-leaf 
pest;  Calichroa  cerasi  is  the  cherry  and  pear  "slug"; 
Ciinbex  americana  (Plate  LXXXVII)  is  the  big,  white 
larva,  common  on  willow,  also  found  on  elm,  poplar, 
and  linden;  Cladius  pectinicornis  on  roses  in  spring,  also 
on  clematis;  Diphadnus  appendiculatus  is  the  Gooseberry 
Saw-fly;  Euura  and  Pontania  make  galls  on  willow; 
Pteronidea  rihesi  (Plate  LXXXVII)  is  the  common  Cur- 
rant-worm, also  on  gooseberry;  Monophadnoides  ruhi 
is  the  Raspberry  Saw-fly;  Erythraspides  pygmcBa  on  grape. 

The  antennas  of  the  ORYSSiDiE  are  situated  just  above 
the  mandibles  under  a  transverse  ridge  which  conceals 
their  bases.     The  larva  of  Oryssus  sayi  bores  in  maple. 

The  Cephid^  are  slender  saw-flies  of  rather  soft  texture. 
The  larvae  of  Janus  integer  tunnel  the  pith  of  currants;  of 
Adirus  trimaculatiis  bore  in  the  stems  of  blackberry;  and  of 
Cephus  pygmceus  in  wheat. 

410 


SAW-FLIES.     PARASITIC  WASPS. 


The  XiPHYDRiiD.E  are  moderate-sized  creatures  with 
quite  a  long  neck;  the  ovipositor  is  cyhndrical;  the  last 
dorsal  plate  of  the  abdomen  (see  Siricidae)  does  not  end  in  a 
triangular  or  lance-shaped  process. 

The  SiRiciD^  are  the  Horn-tails.  The  last  dorsal 
plate  of  the  abdomen  ends  in  a  triangular  or  lance-shaped 
process.  These  insects  are  wood-borers  and  sometimes 
emerge  in  our  houses  from  fire-wood  or  even  furniture. 

The  adult  Pigeon  Tremex  is  well  repre- 
Jolumbl  rented    in    Plate    LXXXVII.     It    is    also 

called  Horn-tail.  The  cylindrical  larva, 
with  three  pairs  of  legs  near  its  head  and  a  "horn"  near 
the  other  end,  bores  in  the  trunks  of  diseased  maple,  elm, 
and  other  trees.  It  pupates  in  the  larval  burrow  after 
making  a  cocoon  of  silk  and  chips.  On  emerging,  the 
adult  leaves  a  hole  about  the  diameter  of  a  lead  pencil. 

ICHNEUMONOIDEA 

This  is  one  of  the  most  important  groups  of  insects,  from 
an  economic  standpoint,  but  the  classification  of  its  species 
is  no  task  for  any  but  the  speciaHst.  Many  millions  of 
these  ichneumon  "wasps"  are  working  every  year,  with 
the  assistance  of  other  parasitic  insects,  in  keeping  down 
insect  pests  and  insects  which  might  be  pests.  To  be 
sure,  others,  as  "secondary  parasites,"  prey  upon  the  foes 
of  our  foes,  and  it  is  one  of  the  problems  of  professional 
economic  entomologists  to  know  one  from  the  other; 
but  in  this  group  so  much  depends  on  the  general  looks  of  a 
species,  its  "habitus,"  that  experience  and  named  collec- 
tions are  necessary  to  easy  identification. 

The  easiest  family  to  recognize,  in  a  general  way,  is  the 
EvANiiDiE;  the  abdomen  appears  to  be  joined  to  the  top, 
instead  of  to  the  end,  of  the  thorax.  Evania  urbana  and 
appendigaster  (Plate  LXXXVIII)  have  blunt  abdomens 
and  breed  in  the  eggs  of  cockroaches. 

Plate  XXXVIII  shows  the  cocoons  of  one  of  the 
Braconid^  on  a  Sphingid  caterpillar.     The  lan^as  live 

411 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


within  the  caterpillar  but  come  out  and  pupate  just  before 
their  host  dies.  Bunches  of  such  cocoons  are  often  found 
fastened  on  plants;  these  belong  to  species  which  leave 
their  host  before  pupating.  Other  species  live  in  plant- 
lice,  pupating  within  their  host's  dead  body  and  cutting 
a  neat,  circular  hole  through  the  abdominal  wall  when 
emerging.  Usually  a  member  of  the  superfamily  Ichneu- 
monoidea  which  has  no  more  than  two  apparent,  dorsal, 
abdominal  segments  is  a  Brachonid,  especially  if  the  cut- 
ting edge  of  the  mandibles  be  turned  inwardly. 

The  family  IcHNEUMONiDiE  includes  the  largest  and 
most  frequently  noticed  species.  The  first  abdominal 
segment  is  broadened  or  bulbous,  not  cylindrical.  Fre- 
quently a  promising  Satumid  cocoon  contains  one  of  these, 
Opliion  macrurum  (Plate  LXXXVIII),  instead  of  its 
rightful  owner.  The  Ophion  larva,  which  was  feeding 
inside  the  caterpillar,  allowed  its  host  to  live  until  the 
cocoon  was  made,  then  killed  the  maker,  spun  a  dense, 
brownish  cocoon  of  its  own  as  an  additional  protection, 
and  pupated. 

,,       ,  A  more  commonly  used  name  is  Thalessa. 

xVl6£rfl.r£ivssfl 

Most  of  the  female  Ichneumonoidea  carry 

their  ovipositors  protruding  from  the  tip  of  their  body, 
but  the  ovipositors  in  this  genus  are  long,  even  when 
compared  with  the  large  size  of  insects.  They  are  parasi- 
tic upon  wood-boring  larvae,  such  as  Tremex,  and  are,  in 
turn,  parasitized  by  Ihalia.  Delicate  as  the  ovipositor 
seems  to  be,  the  female  is  able,  with  it,  to  pierce  solid 
wood  in  order  to  deposit  an  egg  in  the  burrow  of  the  Tremex 
within  the  tree's  trunk  (Plate  LXXXVIII).  I  do  not 
know  how  the  females  decide  where  to  bore.  The  egg  is 
not  necessarily  laid  near  the  Tremex  larva  but  the  burrow 
must  be  reached  and  this  is  rarely,  if  ever,  half  an  inch 
wide.  Because  of  the  popular  interest  in  the  subject, 
I  assure  you  that  the  creature  does  not  sting  and  give  a 
modification  of  Mr.  Viereck's  key  to  some  of  our  species. 

1.  Wings  without  dark  patches 2. 

Wings  with  dark  patches;  more  than  .75  in.  long 4. 

2.  More  than  .75  in.  long;  exserted  portion  of  ovipositor 
usually  at  least  twice  the  length  of  the  body 3. 

412 


Plate  LXXXVIII 


Spilochalcis   moriiS^     ' '^^'polyt^urator 


413 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Less  than  .75  in.  long;  thorax  and  abdomen  entirely 
black nitida. 

3.  Female  mostly  blackish,  with  fuscous  (smoky)  wings; 
male  mostly  dark  brown,  with  a  dark,  median  stripe  or 
area  on  the  hind  end  of  the  thorax atrata. 

Both  sexes  mostly  pale  brown;  wings  not  fuscous; 
abdomen  with  yellow,  lateral  stripes,  at  least  in  the  female ; 
male  without  the  dark  marking  on  the  end  of  the  thorax. 

nortoni. 

4.  Exserted  portion  of  the  ovipositor  not  much  longer 
than  the  body;  front  wings  not  dark  brown  except  in  and 
near  the  marginal  cell greenei. 

Exserted  portion  of  the  ovipositor  two  times,  or 
more,  as  long  as  the  body;  front  wings  dark  brown  along 
the  basal  vein  and  elsewhere lunator. 

CYNIPOIDEA 

There  are  several  families  in  this  group,  the  largest  and 
most  interesting  being  the  Cynipidae.  They  are  largely  gall- 
makers;  see  p.  457  and  Amphibolips,  Plate  LXXXVIII. 
Some  Cynipoidea,  such  as  Ibalia,  the  largest  of  our  Cyni- 
poids  and  parasitic  on  Megarliyssa,  are  parasitic;  others, 
although  breeding  in  galls,  do  not  have  any  part  in  making 
them  but  merely  feed  on  the  plant  tissue  which  grew  be- 
cause of  the  activities  of  another  insect.  Some  of  the 
Cynipid  gall-makers  have  an  interesting  alternation  of 
generations:  adults  of  generation  A  produce  a  certain 
kind  of  gall  from  which  hatches  generation  B;  adults  of 
B  differ  from  those  of  A  and  make  a  different  kind  of  gall 
but  their  offspring  are  A,  starting  the  cycle  over  again. 
This  matter  has  not  been  worked  out  for  the  American 
species. 

CHALCIDOIDEA 

A  few,  such  as  Isosoma,  the  "joint-worms"  of  grain, 
are  plant  feeders.  As  a  rule,  they  are  parasitic,  a  large 
number  of  them  being  secondary  parasites,  that  is  parasitic 
upon  parasitic  insects.  The  fact  that,  in  many  instances, 
an  individual  gets  its  entire  nourishment  from  a  single 

414 


THE  SMALLEST  INSECTS. 


insect  egg  or  a  single  scale-insect  indicates  the  small  size 
of  many  species.  Others  feed  on  larger  prey  as,  for  in- 
stance, Pteromalus  puparum  on  the  cabbage-worm.  Only 
last  week  a  small  boy  brought  in  numbers  of  the  yellow 
Spilochalcis  maricB  (Plate  LXXXVIII)  which  had  come  out 
of  cecropia  cocoons  he  had  gathered. 

SERPHOIDEA 

This  superfamily  is  made  up  of  the  PROCTOTRYPiDiE 
and  Pelecinid^  of  the  older  system  of  classification  and 
is  now  divided  into  a  number  of  different  families.  Almost, 
or  quite,  all  are  parasitic.  Although  they  are  nearly  all 
small,  some  being,  in  fact,  the  smallest  of  our  insects  and 
practically  invisible  to  the  naked  eye,  Pelecinus  polyturator 
(Plate  LXXXVIII)  is  quite  large.  It  is  the  only  species 
of  Pelecinidae  v/ithin  the  geographic  limits  of  this  book, 
and  is  parasitic  upon  the  larvae  of  May  beetles,  Phyllophaga. 
The  elongate  abdomen  of  the  female  enables  her  to  reach 
the  underground  larvae;  the  more  normally  shaped  male  is 
quite  rare.  The  small  Proctotrupidae  breed  in  the  eggs 
of  various  insects,  some  even  swimming  with  their  wings 
under  water  to  reach  the  eggs  of  aquatic  forms. 

FORMICOIDEA 

There  is  only  one  family,  Formicid^,  of  Ants.  In 
addition  to  males  and  sexual  females,  nearly  every  species 
has  modified  females,  which  rarely  reproduce.  These 
are  the  workers.  There  may  be  more  than  one  sort  of 
worker,  in  which  case  they  are  usually  much  alike  except 
in  size  but  some  may  be  differentiated  as  "soldiers."  It 
is  the  workers  which  we  ordinarily  see  and,  as  they  never 
have  wings,  many  people  think  that  all  ants  are  wingless. 
However,  the  sexual  forms,  which  are  usually  produced 
but  once  a  year,  are  fully  winged  and  indulge  in  a  nuptial 
flight.  After  it,  the  males  die  but  the  females  lose  their 
wings  and  settle  down  to  the  sta3^-at-home  task  of  produc- 
ing offspring.  The  rearing  of  all  except  the  first  of  these 
offspring  is  attended  to  by  the  old-maid  daughters  unless 

415 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


the  species  has  learned  the  trick  of  keeping  servants 
("slaves").  The  pupae  of  some  species  are  enclosed  in 
cocoons  (the  "ant's  eggs"  of  commerce);  those  of  others 
are  naked. 

Ants  may  be  kept  alive  as  pets.  To  do  this,  be  sure  that 
you  secure  a  queen;  many  workers  to  take  care  of  things 
are  not  required  and,  in  fact,  an  unattended  queen  v/ill 
often  rear  attendants,  especially  if  she  be  young  and 
fertile.  Things  go  more  smoothly  if  the  workers  have 
eggs,  larv£e,  and  pupas  to  start  with.  The  simplest 
formicarium  is  a  goblet  set  in  a  pan  of  water;  in  this  case 
considerable  earth  is  necessary  and  one  can  not  well  see 
what  is  going  on.  Janet  used  a  plaster  box  much  like  the 
one  described  on  p.  i6  except  that  he  had  several  com- 
municating chambers;  three  covers  are  desirable:  a  glass 
one  having  a  hole  over  each  chamber  (not  strictly  neces- 
sary), pieces  of  glass  to  cover  each  of  these  holes,  and  an 
opaque  cover  to  all  but  one  chamber  (the  feeding  one). 
The  Fielde  nest  is  made  from  two  pieces  of  glass,  one  for 
top  and  one  for  bottom ;  the  walls  are  made  from  strips  of 
glass  (laid  flat)  or  of  heavy  toweling,  the  feeding  door 
being  a  plug  of  cotton;  there  should  be  an  opaque  cover 
for  top  and  bottom  of  all  but  the  feeding  chamber ;  moisture 
is  supplied  by  wetting  a  slice  of  sponge  in  the  feeding 
chamber.  A  little  soil  (or  rotten  wood)  may  be  put  in  the 
Janet  nest  and  should  be  in  the  Fielde  nest.  Feed  sugar, 
bits  of  meat,  fruit,  or  something  of  the  sort. 

The  habits  of  ants  are  both  interesting  and  diversified. 
Of  the  many  books  devoted  wholly,  or  in  large  part,  to 
them,  by  far  the  best  is  Prof.  W.  M.  Wheeler's,  published 
by  the  Columbia  University  Press  under  the  title  of  Ants: 
Their  Structure,  Development,  and  Behavior.  The  following 
key  to  the  principal  genera  of  our  region  refers  only  to 
workers  and,  since  it  does  not  include  all  of  the  genera,  no 
surprise  need  be  felt  if  all  of  your  specimens  do  not  fit.  I 
hope  they  will  not  fit  in  the  wrong  place.  Following  it 
are  a  few  notes  to  serve  as  starters.  The  key  and  notes' 
are  largely  extracts  from  Wheeler's  chapter  in  the  Hymen- 
optera  of  Connecticut. 


416 


KEY  TO  GENERA  OF  ANTS. 


1.  Cloacal  orifice  ventral,  slit-shaped 7. 

Cloacal   orifice   terminal,    circular,    surrounded   by   a 

fringe  of  hairs;  abdominal  pedicel  consisting  of  only  a 
single  segment;  no  constriction  between  the  first  and 
second  gastric  segments  (The  gaster  is  the  swollen  portion 
of  the  abdomen);  pupae  usually  enclosed  in  a  cocoon. 
Camponotinas 2. 

2.  Antennae  9-jointed Bracliymyrmex. 

More  than  9  antennal  joints 3. 

3.  Workers  strongly  polymorphic,  i.  e.,  some  large- 
headed,  some  small-headed,  and  some  intermediate .... 

Camponotus. 

Workers  not  polymorphic  though  often  of  variable 

size 4. 

4.  Clypeal  depression  (The  clypeus  is  the  lower  part  of 
the  face;  the  labrum,  or  lip,  is  attached  to  it.)  distinctly 
separated  from  antennal  depression Prenolepis. 

Clypeal  depression  confluent  with  antennal  depres- 
sion  5. 

5.  Second  to  fifth  joints  of  fimiculus  (the  antenna 
beyond  the  first  joint;  the  "lash")  not  longer  than  succeed- 
ing joints;  ocelli  usually  absent ^ Lasius. 

These  joints  longer  than  the  succeeding;  ocelli  distinct; 
fourth  joint  of  maxillary  palpi  a  little  longer  than  fifth. ...  6. 

6.  Mandibles  with  broad,  dentate,  apical  border .  Formica. 
Mandibles  narrow,  falcate,  and  pointed.  .Polyergus. 

7.  Sting  developed,  sometimes  very  small  but  still 
exsertile;  pedicel  consisting  of  one  or  two  segments  (when 
of  only  one,  a  distinct  constriction  between  first  and 
second  gastric  segments) 9. 

Sting  vestigial;  pedicel  with  one  segment;  no  con- 
striction between  first  and  second  gastric  segments;  often 
with  a  peculiar,  rancid-butter  odor;  pupae  naked.  Doli- 
choderinas 8. 

8.  Chitinous  integument  hard  and  brittle,  often  strongly 
sculptured;  thorax  and  petiole  often  spinose  or  angular. 

Dolichoderus. 

Integument  thin  and  flexible,  smooth  or  very  finely 

sculptured;  thorax  and  petiole  unarmed;  scale  of  petiole 

vestigial  or  absent Tapinoma. 

27  417 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


9.  Pupae  naked;  abdominal  pedicel  consisting  of  two 
segments 10. 

Pupas  enclosed  in  cocoons;  pedicel  with  one  segment; 
gaster  with  a  distinct  constriction  between  its  first  and 
second  segments;  frontal  ridges  separated  or,  if  close 
together,  dilated  to  form  oblique  or  horizontal  plates 
partly  covering  insertions  of  antennae.  Ponerinas,  of 
which  Ponera  coarctata  is  our  common  species.  It  nests 
under  stones  and  in  rotten  logs  in  open  woods  and  along 
hedges. 

10.  Frontal  ridges  very  close  together,  almost  vertical, 
not  at  all  covering  antennal  insertions;  eyes  always 
very  small  or  absent;  tropical  or  subtropical.     Dor^'linae. 

Frontal  ridges  of  a  different  conformation  and  cover- 
ing antennal  insertions;  eyes  rarely  vestigial  or  absent. 
Myrmicinag.  In  the  following,  workers  are  developed  and 
clypeus  usually  extends  back  between  frontal  ridges ....  11. 

11.  Postpetiole  joined  to  upper  surface  of  gaster,  which  is 
flattened  above,  more  convex  below,  and  pointed  at  tip. 

Cremasto  gaster, 

Postpetiole    joined   to   front   end   of   gaster,    which 

is  of  the  usual  shape;  antennal  club  consisting  of  several 

joints,  or  antennae  not  i  i-jointed 12. 

12.  Antennae  lo-jointed,  with  a  2-jointed  club . .  Solenopsis. 
Antennal   club,    when    developed,   with   more   than 

two  joints 13. 

13.  Posterior  margin  of  clypeus  elevated  in  the  form  of  a 
welt,  bordering  antennal  depression  in  front;  antennas 
of  workers  with  11  (sub-genus  Xiphomyrmex)  or  12  joints, 
of  male  lo-jointed Tetramorium. 

Posterior  border  of  clypeus  not  thus  elevated 14. 

14.  Antennae  i  i-jointed 15. 

Antennae  12-jointed 16. 

15.  Thorax  and  petiole  without  any  traces  of  teeth  or 
spines;  pronotum  never  angular;  petiole  distinctly  pedun- 
culate  Monomorium.  - 

Epinotum  (posterior  part  of  thorax,  above)  armed 
with  spines  or  teeth.  Leptothorax  (see  19);  Symmyrmica, 
which  fits  here,  may  also  be  found. 

16.  Workers  strongly  dimorphic,  usually  without  inter- 

418 


Plate  LXXXIX 


Monomor 
phoraonis 


Camponotus  pennsylvanicus 


Work  ^nat 


zl'TO 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


mediates;  antennal  club  3-jointed,  longer  than  remainder 

of    funiculus Pheidole. 

Workers  monomorphic  or  polymorphic,  i.  e.,  with 
intermediates;  antennal  club  indistinct  or  shorter  than 
remainder  of  funiculus 17. 

17.  Last  three  antennal  joints  much  shorter  than  re- 
mainder of  funiculus  and  not  forming  a  distinct  club; 
back  of  thorax  with  an  impressed  suture 18. 

Last  three  antennal  joints  forming  a  distinct  club 
nearly  as  long  as  remainder  of  funiculus 19. 

18.  Spurs  of  hind  tibiae  comb-like Myrmica. 

Spurs   of  hind  tibiae   simple;   eyes   well  developed; 

no  keels  on  clypeus;  workers  monomorphic .  .Aphcsnogaster. 

19.  Clypeus  with  a  pair  of  ridges  which  usually  project 
forward  in  the  form  of  teeth Monomorium. 

Clypeus  of  a  different  conformation,  rarely  2-toothed ; 
postpetiole  constricted  behind LeptotJiorax  (see  15). 

Monomorium  pharaonis  (Plate  LXXXIX)  is  the  little 
red  or  3^ellow  ant  which  is  often  abundant  in  our  houses. 
A  native  of  the  Old  World,  it  is  now  widely  distributed. 
M.  minimum  is  very  small  and  jet-black.  It  makes  small 
crater  nests  in  sandy  places.  The  workers  move  in  files, 
visiting  plants  in  search  of  honey-dew  and  the  secretion  of 
the  extrafioral  nectaries. 

Solenopsis  molesta.  The  minute,  yellow  workers  are 
common  in  open,  grassy  places  where  they  may  have  nests 
of  their  own  under  stones  or  they  may  tunnel  the  walls 
of  nests  belonging  to  larger  ants,  stealing  their  food. 

Pheidole  pilifera  is  a  true  harvesting  ant,  storing  the  cham- 
bers of  its  nests  with  seeds,  especially  of  grass.  The  huge- 
headed  soldiers  undoubtedly  function  as  seed-crushers. 

Cremastogaster  lineolata  (Plate  LXXXIX),  in  several 
varieties,  is  very  common  under  stones,  boards,  etc.  It 
often  makes  paper-Hke  partitions  in  its  nest  or  over  aphids 
and  coccids  on  plants — "cow  sheds."  The  workers,  which 
have  a  disagreeable  odor,  move  about  in  loose  files  and 
often  carry  the  triangular  gaster  over  the  thorax  with  the 
tip  turned  forward. 

Aphcsnogaster  (several  species)  is  usually  found  in  shady 
woods,  in  rotten  wood,  and  imder  stones. 

420 


ANTS. 

Myrmica  punctiventris  has  coarse,  scattered  punctures 
on  the  first  gastric  segment;  scabrinodis  and  its  varieties 
have  the  antennal  scape  toothed  or  lobed  at  base;  brevm- 
odis,  and  its  varieties,  have  the  scape  merely  curved.  The 
latter  is  host  to  species  of  Leptothorax  and  nests  in  bog- 
hummocks. 

Leptothorax  emersoni  obtains  its  food  by  licking  the 
surfaces  and  mouth  parts  of  the  Myrmica  workers,  and 
brings  up  its  brood  in  little  cells  which  communicate,  by 
means  of  slender  galleries,  with  the  larger  chambers  and 
runways  of  Myrmica.  L.  curvispinosus  nests  in  hollow 
twigs,  empty  galls,  etc.;  it  is  yellow,  with  two  dark  spots 
on  the  first  gastric  segment. 

Tetramorium  ccespitum  (Plate  LXXXIX),  from  Eiirope, 
occurs  on  lawns  and  in  greenhouses. 

Dolichoderus  marice  has  a  bright  red  head  and  thorax. 
It  forms  large  colonies,  nesting  in  sandy  places  about  the 
roots  of  grasses  and  bushes.  The  workers  ascend  trees  in 
files  and  attend  aphids  and  coccids.  The  colonies  of  D. 
plagiatus  are  small;  the  head  and  thorax  are  coarsely 
punctate  and  the  gaster  has  large,  yellowish-red  spots. 

Tapinoma  sessile  nests  imder  things,  usually  in  sunny 
places.     The  larv£e  and  pupae  are  salmon-colored. 

Brachymyrmex  heeri  depilis  is  ver}^  small.  It  nests 
under  stones  in  shady  woods  and  attends  coccids  on  the 
roots  of  plants. 

Prenolepis  imparls  makes  small  crater  nests  in  oak 
woods,  especially  on  clayey  soil.  The  workers  visit  trees 
for  the  purpose  of  attending  aphids,  obtaining  the  secre- 
tion of  extrafloral  nectaries,  etc.  After  imbibing  these 
liquids,  the  gaster  often  becomes  so  distended  that  it  is 
four  or  five  times  its  normal  size  and  the  insects  w^alk 
with  difficulty.  In  this  replete  condition  imparts  workers 
may  be  said  to  represent  a  temporary  stage  of  the  more 
extraordinary  enlargement  of  the  gaster  seen  in  the  honey 
ants  (Myrmecocystus)  of  the  Southwestern  States  and 
Mexico.  The  males  and  females  of  imparis  often  pass  the 
winter  in  the  parental  nest  and  celebrate  their  nuptial 
flight  early  in  the  spring. 

Lasius  niger  americanus  (Plate  LXXXIX)  has  6- jointed 
maxillary  palpi,  the  last  three  joints  being  elongated  and 

421 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


of  nearly  equal  length;  scapes  and  legs  without  erect  hairs. 
"This  ant,  which  passes  in  much  of  our  entomological 
literature  as  L.  alienus,  is  not  only  the  commonest  of  our 
numerous  species  of  Lasius,  but  the  most  abundant  of 
our  ants,  and  hence,  of  all  our  insects.  It  occurs  over  the 
whole  of  North  America,  except  the  extreme  southern  and 
southwestern  portions,  from  timberline  on  the  highest 
mountains  to  the  sands  of  seashore.  Even  in  circum- 
scribed localities  it  shows,  in  its  nesting  sites,  great  adapt- 
ability to  different  physical  conditions,  from  the  damp 
rotten  wood  of  dense  forests  to  the  sandy  soil  of  dry,  sunny 
roads.  Usually  the  workers  living  in  the  latter  stations 
are  much  paler  in  color  than  the  woodland  forms.  The 
nests  are  indifferently  under  bark,  logs,  or  stones,  in  rotten 
wood  or  in  soil.  When  in  the  open  soil,  they  are  sur- 
moimted  by  small  single  or  clustered  craters.  Like  all 
of  our  other  species  of  Lasius,  L.  niger  var.  americanus 
is  much  given  to  cultivating  root  aphids  in  the  chambers 
and  galleries  of  its  nests;  but,  with  the  exception  of  the 
variety  neoniger  [scapes  and  legs  beset  with  erect  hairs], 
it  is  the  only  one  of  our  forms  that  is  not  exclusively  sub- 
terranean in  its  habits." 

A  few  of  the  species  of  Formica  may  be  separated  as 
follows: 

1.  Clypeus  with  a  notch  in  middle  of  anterior  border. 
F.  sanguinea;  var.  suhintegra  is  light  red,  with  brown 
gaster,  and  var.  rubicunda,  among  others,  is  deep  red,  with 
black  gaster. 

Clypeus  without  such  notch 2. 

2.  Posterior  border  of  head  broadly  excised 

F.  exsectoides. 
Posterior  border  of  head  not  excised 3. 

3.  Body  rather  stout;  head  of  larger  workers  usually 
but  little  longer  than  broad;  second  to  third  funicular 
joints  much  more  elongated  than  sixth  to  eighth ;  color  red, 
with  brown  or  black  gaster 4. 

Body  more  slender  and  graceful;  head  of  larger 
workers  distinctly  longer  than  broad;  second  to  third 
funicular  joints  but  little  more  elongated  than  sixth  to 

eighth;  color  rarely  as  in  preceding 5. 

422 

I 


SLAVES  AND  SLAVE-MAKERS. 


4.  Petiole  broad,  with  sharp  upper  border;  body  and 
lower  surface  of  head  without  erect  hairs 

F.  truncicola  Integra. 

Petiole  narrow,  thick,  and  blunt  above 

F.  difficilis  consocians. 

5.  Middle  funicular  joints  more  than  one  and  a  half 
times  as  long  as  broad;  scape  very  slender  and  nearly 
straight;  petiole  with  convex  anterior  and  posterior  sur- 
faces, and  blunt  upper  margin;  body  smooth  and  rather 
shining P-  pallide-fulva. 

Middle  funicular  joints  usually  less  than  one  and  a 
half  times  as  long  as  broad;  scape  distinctly  curved  at 
base;  posterior  surface  of  petiole  flat;  body  more  densely 
pubescent F'  fusca. 

F.  sanguinea  usually  nests  under  stones  in  grassy  places 
along  the  edges  of  woods.  It  obtains  slaves,  or  auxiliary 
workers,  by  kidnapping  the  larvae  and  pupae  of  fusca 
subsericea. 

F.  exsectoides  occurs  chiefly  in  the  Alleghanies.  It 
nests  in  and  imder  moimds  which  it  constructs  of  earth 
and  vegetable  debris.  Not  only  are  these  mounds  often 
three  or  four  feet  in  diameter  and  a  foot  or  two  high,  but  a 
single  colony  often  extends  over  several  mounds.  The 
females  get  a  start  by  estabHshing  their  colonies  in  de- 
pauperate colonies  of  fusca  subsericea.  It  feeds  partly, 
at  least,  on  dead  insects. 

F.  truncicola  integra  is  our  largest  and  most  conspicuous 
form  of  truncicola.  The  nests  are  in  piles  of  large  stones  or 
in  old  logs  and  stumps;  they  are  stuffed  with  bits  of  grass 
and  leaves.  Like  most  other  species  of  Formica,  integra 
is  much  given  to  attending  aphids.  It  is  most  abundant 
in  hilly  regions,  where  it  prefers  clearings  in  the  forests. 

The  females  of  F.  difficilis  consocians,  which  are  yellow 
and  hardly  larger  than  the  largest  workers,  are  temporary 
parasites  in  the  nests  of  schaufussi  var.  incerta.  Soon  after 
fertilization  the  queen  seeks  adoption  in  some  depauperate 
and  probably  queenless  colony  of  incerta  and  there  permits 
her  hosts  to  bring  up  her  young.  Later  the  incerta  workers 
die  off,  leaving  the  consocians  as  a  pure  and  independent 
colony,  which  grows  rapidly  in  size  and  shows  no  evidence 

423 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


of  its  parasitic  origin.  The  nests  resemble  those  of  Integra 
but  are  smaller. 

The  subspecies,  schaufussi  (Plate  LXXXIX),  of  F. 
pallide-fulva,  is  yellowish  or  reddish-brown,  gaster  but  little 
darker;  it  has  erect  hairs  on  the  lower  surface  of  the  head 
and  on  the  petiolar  border.  It  is  one  of  the  commonest 
species  of  Formica  and  nests  in  rather  small  colonies  under 
stones  or  in  small,  obscure  mound-nests  in  sunny,  grassy 
fields.  Its  food  consists  largely  of  dead  insects  and  the 
excrement  of  aphids.     See  Polyergus  lucidus. 

Formica  fusca  var.  suhsericea  is  extremely  common. 
Its  habits  are  much  like  those  of  schaufussi  and,  like  it, 
suhsericea  is  very  timid.  As  the  preceding  notes  show,  it 
is  a  very  convenient  creature  for  its  relatives. 

Polyergus  lucidus  (Plate  LXXXIX)  is  called  the  "shin- 
ing slave-maker"  or  "shining  amazon."  Its  slaves  are 
bred  from  pupae  of  Formica  schaufussi,  which  are  taken 
from  their  maternal  nests  by  the  warlike  lucidus  workers. 
The  latter  are  quite  unable  to  feed  themselves,  excavate 
their  nests,  or  care  for  their  own  brood,  but  have  to  depend 
for  these  important  activities  on  the  schaufussi  workers. 
Hence  the  ants  of  this  species  are  quite  unable  to  live  an 
independent  life  and  may  be  regarded  as  permanently 
parasitic  on  fragments  of  schaufussi  colonies  which  they 
bring  together  with  great  skill. 

The  commonest  Camponotus  is  herculeanus  pennsylvani- 
cus  (Plate  LXXXIX).  It  is  the  big,  black  Carpenter 
Ant,  which  usually  nests  in  shady  woods  in  old  logs  and 
stumps,  whence  it  may  migrate  into  old  farm-houses  and 
suburban  residences.  In  such  an  event,  it  becomes 
a  pest^  both  by  riddling  the  wood-work  with  its  large 
galleries  and  by  hunting  for  sweets. 

CHRYSIDOIDEA 

The  scientific  name  refers  to  the  golden  color  of  certain 
(European)  species  and  "Ruby  Wasps"  to  the  color  of 
others,  but  most  American  species  are  metallic  green  or 
blue.  "  Cuckoo- wasps "  is  a  name  which  describes  their 
habits,  since  they  lay  their  eggs  in  the  nests  of  other 
Hymenoptera  and  their  larvae  deprive  the  rightful  owner 
of  food,  if  they  do  not  actually  eat  the  owner  first.     The 

424 


Plate  XC 


5-cmctQ 


MutlllQ 

occidenlalis 


f 


Chrysi^  ^  ,     , 

coeruleans       Eumenes  jraiernus 


/       iP^  ,m.  MonobiQ 

^  ■^--/▼'%  QUQdridens 

uaijneru5  birenimQculQiu5 


s^--^ 


Vespa  communis     ^^      i^J^ 
^y.  crabro'  VmaculalQ 


TYPICAL  WASPS  AND  HORNETS. 


hind  part  of  the  abdomen  is  modified  to  form  a  retractile 
tube.  The  colors  are  extremely  beautiful  and  well  repay 
the  use  of  a  lens.  We  have  but  one  family,  CHRYSiDiDiE. 
The  following  key  to  certain  genera  is  practically  that  of 
the  Hymenoptera  of  Connecticut. 

1.  Tongue  not  longer  than  thorax 2. 

Tongue  longer  than  thorax,  bee-like Parnopes. 

2.  Third  abdominal  segment  with  grooves  or  pits  near 
the  margin ;  head  at  least  as  broad  as  postscutellum .... 

Chrysis  (Plate  XC). 
Third  abdominal  segment  without  such  grooves 3. 

3.  Tarsal  claw  with  2  to  6  teeth  besides  apical  one 4. 

Not  so 5. 

4.  Apical  abdominal  segment  produced  as  if  pinched; 
apical  margin  of  third  abdominal  segment  indented,  the 
indentations  more  or  less  filled  with  a  membrane .  Notozus. 

Apical    segment    not    "pinched";    margin    of    third 
segment  notched,   rounded Omalus. 

5.  One  small,  perpendicular  tooth  in  middle  of  tarsal 
claw Hedychridium. 

Tarsal  claws  cleft Hedychrum. 


VESPOIDEA 

The   typical    "Wasps,"  Hornets,  and   their   relatives, 
belong  here. 

1.  Winged 2. 

Wingless,  or  with  wings  much  reduced  in  size 10, 

2.  Hind  wings  without  distinct  venation,  with  no  closed 
cells.     Parasitic 3. 

Hind  wings  with  well-developed  venation  and  closed 
cells 4. 

3.  Head  oblong,  rather  flat  above;  antennae  inserted  at 
the  clypeus,  at  least  12  joints;  small,  usually  black  or 
bronzed;  females  often  wingless;  abdomen  more  or  less 
elongate Bethylid^. 

Head    transverse    or    somewhat    squared;    antennas 
10- jointed;  front  tarsi  of  female  usually  pincer-shaped .  .  .  . 

Dryinid.e. 

425 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


4.  Wings  folded  longitudinally  when  at  rest  (They  are 
indistinctly  so  in  the  Masarid^  of  our  West,  which  have 
the  end  joints  of  the  antennae  thickened  and  more  or  less 
fused) ;  first  discoidal  cell  much  longer  than  the  submedian; 
antennas  distinctly  elbowed 5* 

Wings  not  folded  when  at  rest 6. 

5.  Middle  tibiae  with  one  spur  at  apex;  tarsal  claws 
with  one  or  more  teeth Eumenid^  (p.  428). 

Middle  tibiae  with  two  spurs  at  apex;  tarsal  claws 
simple Vespid^  (p.  430). 

6.  Legs  long,  the  hind  femora  reaching  to  or  beyond 
the  apex  of  the  abdomen;  tibiae  and  tarsi  nearly  always 
spiny  or  serrate ;  middle  tibiae  with  two  spurs 

PSAMMOCHARID^   (p.  428). 

Legs  of  usual  length 7. 

7.  A  strong  constriction  or  transverse  furrow  between 
the  first  two  segments  of  the  abdomen,  beneath 8. 

No  such  furrow;  clypeus  nearly,  or  quite,  as  long 
as  wide;  margin  of  eyes  indented.  Sapygid^.  Sapyga 
is  the  only  Northeastern  genus;  in  centrata  the  yellow  line 
on  inner  orbits  extends  beyond  the  top  of  the  eyes,  and  in 
americana  it  does  not.  They  are  parasitic  on  bees  and 
wasps. 

8.  Middle  coxae  usually  widely  separated  by  a  bilobed  or 
triangular  prolongation  of  the  mesostemum ;  tibiae  usually 
flattened,  with  bristles  exteriorly ScoLiiDiE  (p.  427). 

Middle  coxae  toucliing 9. 

9.  Hind  wings  with  an  anal  lobe,  separated  by  a  deep, 
narrow  notch.  With  three  submarginal  cells  and  no 
upturned  spine  at  apex  of  abdomen:  male  Myrmosid^; 
the  only  species  in  the  Northeast  is  Myrmosa  unicolor. 
With  two  submarginal  cells  and  an  upturned  spine  at 
apex  of  abdomen:  IMethocid^,  of  which  Methoca  stygia 
is  the  only  northeastern  species. 

Hind  wings  without  an  anal  lobe,  at  most  obtusely 
indented;  body  hairy,  the  hairs  often  brightly  colored. 

Male  MuTiLLiD^  (p.  427). 

10.  Back  of  thorax  without  visible  sutures 

Female  MuTiLLiDiE  (p.  427). 
Back    of   thorax    with    one    suture.     Female    Myr- 
MOSID^  (see  9). 

426 


VELVET  ♦♦  ANTS." 


Back  of  thorax  with  two  sutures ii. 

11.  Head  long,  usually  distinctly  longer  than  broad, 
flattened  above,  the  front  horizontal;  legs  stout.  Some 
female  Bethylid^e  (see  3). 

Head  transverse,  squared  or  rounded 12. 

12.  Antennae  lo-jointed;  front  tarsi  usually  pincer- 
shaped.     Some  Dryinid.e  (see  3). 

Antennae  12- jointed;  front  tarsi  normal.  Metho- 
CID^  (see  9). 

Antennae  13-jointed;  wings  present  as  small  pads. 
A  few  male  AIuTiLLiDiE  (see  below). 

SCOLIID/E 

These  hairy  wasps  burrow  in  the  ground  in  search  of 
the  larv£e  of  IVIay-beetles  {Phyllophaga,  etc.),  on  which 
their  larvae  feed.  The  confusion  of  names  need  not  con- 
cern us  here.  The  following  are  some  of  the  genera,  named 
according  to  the  Hymenoptera  of  Connecticut. 

1.  Inner  margins  of  eyes  indented;  with  yellow  mark- 
ings  2. 

Inner  margins  of  eyes  not  indented 4. 

2.  Tarsal  claws  cleft;  middle  tibise  with  two  spurs. 
Eliinae.     Elis  (Plate  XC)  is  our  only  genus. 

Tarsal   claws   simple;    middle   tibiae   with   one   spur. 
Scoliince 3. 

3.  Front  wings  with  two  recurrent  veins. . .  Campsomeris. 
Front  wings  with  one  recurrent  vein Scolia. 

4.  Middle  tibiae  with  two  spurs.     Anthoboscinae 

Sierolomorpha. 

Middle  tibiae  with  one  spur.     Tiphiinae 5. 

5.  First  transverse  cubital  present  but  incomplete.  Para- 
tiphia,  our  only  Eastern  species  being  algonquina. 

First  transverse  cubital  wanting.     Tiphia;  a  number 
of  species, 

MUTILLID^ 

These  are  the  Velvet  Ants,  pretty  but  the  females 
certainly  can  sting.  As  far  as  the  amateur  is  concerned, 
the  Alethocidae  and  Myrmosidae  might  as  well  be  grouped 

427 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


with  them;  they  formerly  were.  The  common  name  is 
well  given.  The  wingless  females  of  these  wasps,  scurrying 
about  in  open,  especially  sandy,  places,  look  like  ants 
covered  with  black,  yellow,  or  red  velvet.  In  the  South- 
west some  of  the  species  have  long,  white  hair.  The 
winged  males  can  not  sting ;  those  of  some  species  are  often 
found  about  flowers,  others  are  nocturnal.  The  two  sexes 
of  a  given  species  usually  have  dissimilar  markings. 
Most  of  these  insects  are  unkind  guests  in  the  nests  of 
other  wasps  and  of  bees.  The  old  genus  Mutilla  (Plate 
XC)  is  now  divided  into  a  number  of  subgenera,  one 
of  which  is  Dasymutilla. 

PSAMMOCHARID/E 

These  are  the  Pompilidae  of  older  classifications.  They 
are  rather  slender,  long-legged,  solitary  wasps;  usually 
black  or  blue,  often  with  orange  bands.  The  wings  are 
usually  black  and  kept  jerking  while  the  insect  is  nmning 
about.  They  prey  chiefly  upon  spiders,  the  big  Pepsis 
of  the  Southwest  not  stopping  short  of  the  "tarantula." 
Most  of  our  species  burrow  in  the  ground  to  form  their 
nests  but  others  make  cells  out  of  mud,  placing  them 
under  stones,  etc.,  while  the  larvae  of  some  live  in  the 
nests  of  other  diggers.  Ceropales  has  the  last-named 
habit;  the  genus  may  be  recognized  by  the  claws  of  the 
hind  tarsi  being  bent  at  a  right  angle.  Plate  XCII  shows 
P  sammochares  atrox. 

EUMENID^ 

The  Potter  Wasps  seem  to  me  to  exceed  their  immediate 
relatives,  at  least  the  solitary  ones,  in  interesting  habits. 
The  nest  of  Eumenes  fraternus  (Plate  XC)  justifies  the  com- 
mon name  given  to  the  group  but  all  of  the  species  seem  to 
use  clay  more  or  less,  even  when  their  nests  are  burrows 
in  the  pith  of  plant-stems.  This  is  an  extensive  family 
and,  from  an  economic  standpoint,  of  great  importance 
to  our  farmers  and  fruit-growers,  very  few  of  whom  know 
anything  at  all  of  the  great  benefit  they  are  deriving  every 
year  from  these  brightly  marked  wasps.     Their  prey  is 

428 


HORNETS  AND  YELLOW-JACKETS. 


destructive  Lepidopterous  and  Coleopterous  larvae,  of 
which  they  must  destroy  many  thousands  every  year. 
As  with  most  solitary  wasps,  the  prey  is  first  paralyzed  by 
stinging  and  then  packed  in  the  nest  as  food  for  the  larva 
which  will  hatch  from  the  egg  laid  before  the  nest  is  sealed. 
Certain  genera  may  be  separated  as  follows: 

1.  Abdomen  petiolate 2. 

Abdomen  sessile,  or  nearly  so 3. 

2.  Head  large,  quadrate,  much  expanded  behind  the 
eyes,  making  the  cheeks  broad;  clypeus  broader  than  long, 
concealing  the  mandibles,  when  they  are  closed .  . .  Zetlius, 

Head  not  expanded  behind  the  eyes,  which  almost 
entirely  cover  the  cheeks;  clypeus  longer  than  broad; 
mandibles,  when  closed,  extending  beneath  the  head 
like  a  beak Eumenes. 

3.  First  abdominal  segment  fimnel-shaped Nortonia. 

Not  so 4. 

4.  Maxillary  palpi  with  6  joints Odynerus  (Plate  XC). 

Maxillary  palpi  with  less  than  6  joints 

Monobia  (Plate  XC). 


Vespid^ 

Tliis  is  the  family  which  is  usually  concerned  when  people 
speak  of  Wasps,  Hornets,  or  Yellow-jackets.  They  are 
all  social  creatures  (among  themselves)  that  make  nests 
of  "paper"  formed  from  chewed  wood.  In  the  South  there 
is  Polybia,  whose  abdomen  is  short  and  ovate  beyond  the 
first,  petiolate,  segment ;  several  mothers  unite  in  producing 
the  young  of  a  colony.  We  may,  for  practical  purposes, 
group  our  northern  species  in  two  genera:  Vespa,  first 
abdominal  segment  very  broad  and  sharply  truncate 
in  front;  and  Polistes,  this  segment  long  and  gradually 
narrowed  in  front  to  a  more  or  less  distinct  petiole.  In 
these,  each  colony  is  a  single  family  in  which  unmarriageable 
daughters  help  to  build  the  house,  keep  it  clean,  and  feed 
the  younger  children.  The  food  consists  of  chewed-up 
animal  matter,  such  as  caterpillars,  but  some  species  use 
honey  and  pollen  also.  The  larvae  are  fed  from  day  to 
day,  or  oftener,  no  food  being  stored  for  them. 

429 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


This  genus  (Plate  XCI)  makes  a  broad, 
Polistes  £g^^  jjgg^  without  a  protecting  cover.     P. 

pallipes  has  an  almost  uniformly  brown  abdomen;  annu- 
laris, a  conspicuous,  yellow  margin  on  the  first  abdominal 
segment ;  and  variatus,  many  yellow  bands  or  spots. 

This  genus  makes  a  paper  cover  for  the 
Vespa  nests  which  are  otherwise  much  like  those 

of  Polistes,  except  that  there  are  a  number  of  "floors." 
The  large,  gray  hornet's  nest,  hanging  on  trees  or  from  the 
eaves  of  houses,  is  that  of  V.  maculata  (Plates  XC  and  XCI). 
At  the  start,  this  nest  has  a  long,  tubular  entrance.  An 
often  equally  large  nest,  but  brown  or  yellow  and  usually 
placed  in  some  protected  spot  such  as  in  a  hollow  tree  or 
under  a  porch-floor,  is  made  by  the  European  V.  crabro 
(Plate  XC),  which  was  introduced,  several  years  ago, 
near  New  York.  The  remainder  of  our  species,  the  yellow- 
jackets,  usually  make  smaller  nests  and  place  them  either 
near  or  under  the  ground.  In  the  latter  case  they  usually 
start  in  a  deserted  field  mouse's  burrow.  We  have  the 
following  "Yellow-jackets"  in  the  Northeast. 

1.  Eyes  touching  base  of  mandibles  or  separated  from 
them  only  by  a  line 3. 

Eyes  remote  from  the  base  of  the  mandibles 2» 

2.  Black    and    white arctica. 

Black   and   yellow  .1 diaholica. 

3.  Black     and     white consohrina. 

Black    and   yellow,  .communis    (including    what    has 

been  called,  in  America,  germanica  and  vulgaris).  Plate 
XC. 

SPHECOIDEA 

Dr.  Bequaert  kindly  drew  up  the  following  key.  It 
does  not  include  the  Nitelid^;  they  are  small  species 
and  if  a  specimen  of  this  family  runs  to  couplet  2,  it  may 
be  recognized  by  the  marginal  cell  having  no  appendix 
or  the  venation  of  the  hind  wings  being  almost  absent; 
if  it  runs  to  couplet  10,  note  that  it  has  but  one  apical 
spur  on  each  middle  tibia  and  the  second  submarginal  cell 
is  petiolate.  The  Peckhams  have  written  both  accurately 

430 


Plate  XCI 


Nest 

VespQ 
ttiqcuIqIq 

(much  reducefii) 


Mud-dQubers  nest 
431 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


and  entertainingly  of  The  Instincts  and  Habits  of  the  Solitary 
Wasps,  as  the  Sphecoidea  are  called. 

1.  Inner  margins  of  the  eyes  notched,  eyes  being  kidney- 
shaped;  one  (rarely  2)  distinct  submarginal  cells;  marginal 
oell  without  an  appendix;  each  middle  tibia  with  a  single 
apical  spur Trypoxylonid^  (p.  436). 

Inner  margins  of  eyes  not  notched;  when  these  are 
slightly  indented,  note  3  submarginal  cells 2. 

2.  One  submarginal  cell;  marginal  cell  with  an  appendix; 
one,  or  no,  apical  spur  on  middle  tibias 3. 

Two  or  3  submarginal  cells 4. 

3.  First  submarginal  cell  separated  from  the  first  dis- 
coidal;  scutellum  and  post-scutellum  without  spines  or 
scales;  eyes  divergent  above Crabronid^e  (p.  434). 

First  submarginal  and  first  cubital  cells  confluent; 
sides  of  scutellum  with  marginal  lamellse;  postscutellum 
with  a  spine  or  forked  process ;  eyes  not  divergent  above. 

OXYBELIDiE  (p.  434). 

4.  Abdomen  more  or  less  constricted  between  the  first 
and  second  segments;  three  submarginal  cells;  marginal 
cell  without  an  appendix.  Philanthid^  (p.  435).  The 
rare  Mellinid^  may  be  distingtiished  from  them  by  having 
two  apical  spurs  on  each  middle  tibia,  no  recurrent  nervure 
going  to  the  second  submarginal  cell,  and  eyes  never  in- 
dented on  the  inner  margins. 

Abdomen  not  constricted  between  the  first  and 
second  segments,  but  the  first  often  shaped  like  a  slender 
petiole 5. 

5.  Main  part  of  the  abdomen  joined  to  the  thorax  by  a 
more  or  less  distinct,  slender  petiole,  which  may  be  short 
or  long,  cylindrical  or  flattened  above 6. 

Main  part  of  the  abdomen  directly  joined  to  the 
thorax  (although  there  is  a  deep  constriction  between 
them) ;  3  (rarely  2)  submarginal  cells 8. 

6.  Middle  tibiae  with  one  apical  spur;  2  or  3  submarginal 
cells;  hind  wings  usually  with  two  indentations  in  the. 
basal  half  of  the  hind  margin;  small,  black  species 

PsENiD^  (p.  434). 
Middle  tibiae  with  two  apical  spurs 7. 

7.  Mesostemimi  produced  into  a  forked  process  posteri- 
orly; pronotum  conically  produced  in  front;  2  submarginal 

432 


KEY  TO  SOLITARY  WASPS. 


cells;  marginal  cell  with  an  appendix;  small,  black  species. 
AMPULICID.E.  Rare.  Our  only  genus  is  Rhinopsis;  it  may- 
prey  on  roaches. 

Mesostemiun  not  produced  posteriorly;  pronotum 
not  conically  produced;  3  (rarely  2)  submarginal  cells; 
marginal  cell  without  an  appendix;  shining  black  or 
marked  with  reddish-brown Sphecid.^  (p.  438). 

8.  Labrum  large,  free,  triangularly  or  semicircularly 
elongated  beyond  the  clypeus;  marginal  cell  rarely  with  an 
appendix;  both  recurrent  nervures  running  to  the  second 
submarginal  cell 9. 

Labrum  small,  not  or  scarcely  extending  beyond 
the  clypeus 10. 

9.  Middle  tibise  with  a  single  apical  spur;  labrum  much 
longer  than  wide ;  ocelli  more  or  less  aborted 

Bembecid.e  (p.  437). 
Middle  tibiae  with  two  apical  spurs;  labrum  wider 
than  long.  Stizid.'E.  The  only  eastern  species  is  Sphecius 
speciosus  (Plate  XCII).  It  is  our  largest  Sphecoid  and, 
because  of  the  food  with  which  it  stocks  its  underground 
burrows,  it  is  called  the  Cicada-killer. 

10.  Second  submarginal  cell  petiolate  or  triangular; 
marginal  cell  without  appendix;  middle  tibiae  with  two 
apical  spurs ;  antennae  arising  well  above  the  clypeus  ....11. 

Second  submarginal  cell  broadly  sessile,  not  tri- 
angular or  petiolate 12. 

11.  Metathorax  with  the  upper  hind  angles  acute  or 
produced  as  short  spines;  3,  rarely  2,  submarginal  cells. 
NvssoNiDiE.     Nest  in  sand;  Nysson  our  only  genus. 

Metathorax  with  the  hind  angles  rounded  or  obtuse. 
Alysonid.e.     Alyso7i  our  only  genus. 

12.  Marginal  cell  usually  with  an  appendix;  antennae 
arising  close  to  the  clypeus ;  middle  tibiae  with  i  or  2  apical 
spurs;  hind  ocelli  frequently  aborted.  .Larrid^  (p.  436). 

Marginal  cell  without  appendix;  antennas  arising 
far  above  the  clypeus;  middle  tibiae  with  2  spurs;  ocelli 
normal.  GorytiD/E.  Gorytes,  variously  divided,  is  our 
only  genus.  Its  species  nest  in  sand  and  provision  with 
Homoptera,  especially  Cercopidae. 


«8  433 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


PSENID/E 


1.  Three  complete  submarginal  cells.  Pseninse.  Our 
principal  genus  is  Psen.  They  nest  either  in  sand  or  in 
twigs  and  provision  their  nests  with  Homoptera. 

Two  complete  submarginal  cells.     Pempliredoninae. .  2. 

2.  Eyes  large,  their  inner  margins  converging  above. 
Plenoculus.     Nests  in  sand. 

Eyes  small,  inner  margins  not  converging  above; 
head  well  developed  behind  the  eyes 3. 

3.  Only  I  recurrent  vein  in  front  wings 4. 

Two  recurrent  veins 5. 

4.  Abdomen  with  a  distinct  petiole.  Stigmus.  Our 
species,  americanus,  provisions  its  nests,  in  branches  or 
stumps,  with  aphids. 

Abdomen  without  a  petiole.  Spilomena;  our  principal 
species  is  pusilla. 

5.  Abdomen  with  a  petiole;  head  and  thorax  rather 
hairy.  Pemphredon.  As  far  as  known,  the  species 
prefer  to  make  their  nests  in  decaying  wood,  provision- 
ing with  aphids. 

Abdomen  without  a  petiole;  head  and  thorax  not 
hairy.  Passaloecus.  They  nest  in  rotten  wood,  galleries 
of  wood-boring  insects,  and  hollow  plant-stems,  provision- 
ing with  aphids  and  other  small  insects. 

GXYBELIDiE 

In  Notoglossa  emarginata  the  process  on  the  back  of  the 
thorax  is  broad  and  slightly  forked  at  the  tip.  Our 
other  species  belong  to  Oxybelus,  the  process  being  acute 
at  the  tip.  European  observations  indicate  that  they  nest 
in  sand,  provisioning  with  small  flies,  which  they  crush 
with  their  mandibles  but  carry  home  on  their  sting. 

Crabronid^ 

These  wasps  are  usually  much  less  than  half  an  inch 
long  and  black,  often  marked  with  yellow.  The  head  is 
large  and  rather  square-cut.  Anacrabro  has  the  abdomen 
deoressed,  flat  beneath;  the  second  discoidal  cell  is  much 

434 


Plate  XCII 


Psammochares  Qtrox 


Sceliphron 
cementQnurn 


Chalijbjon      ^ 
CQeruleum 


5pex 


Chlorion    j 
ichneufnoneQ 


\  urnariQ 


Bembex '  spinoUe 


Crabro 


Cerceris  t 

clypeata     ; 

Spheciijs  speciosus 


SOLITARY  WASPS. 


longer  than  the  first  and  pointed  at  the  tip.  Our  only 
species,  ocellatus,  nests  in  sand  banks  and  provisions  with 
bugs  of  the  genus  Lygiis.  Our  other  genus  is  Crabro 
(Plate  XCII),  which  is  much  split  up  in  the  recent  classifica- 
tions, but  some  of  the  distinctions  are  rather  technical. 
Different  groups  of  species  have  different  habits;  nesting 
in  wood,  stems,  and  soil;  provisioning  with  mites,  spiders, 
flies,  bugs,  aphids,  and  moths. 

PHILANTHID.E 

In  the  Hymenoptera  of  Connecticut  they  have  widely 
separated  Cerceris  from  Philanthus  because  the  latter  has 
a  suture  on  the  sides  of  the  thorax,  below  the  front  wings, 
which  the  former  lacks.  For  our  purpose  the  four  genera 
accepted  years  ago  seem  sufficient. 

1.  Third  submarginal  cell  very  large,  somewhat  quadrate, 
scarcely  narrowed  towards  the  marginal  cell  and  extending 
beyond  it ;  first  abdominal  segment  narrowed.  Eucerceris. 
For  the  most  part,  western. 

Third  submarginal  cell  much  narrowed  towards 
the  marginal,  leaving  a  broad  deep  sinus  between  them, 
the  former  not  extending  beyond  the  latter 2. 

2.  Basal  segment  of  abdomen  narrower  than  the  second, 
all  the  segments  more  or  less  constricted;  second  sub- 
marginal  cell  petiolate ;  marginal  cell  rather  obtuse  at  apex 
and  rarely  extending  beyond  the  third  submarginal  cell. 

Cerceris  (Plate  XCII). 
Basal  segment  of  abdomen  nearly  or  quite  as  broad 
at  apex  as  the  base  of  second  segment,  segments  rarely 
constricted;  second  submarginal  cell  not  petiolate;  mar- 
ginal cell  usually  narrowed,  pointed  at  apex,  and  extending 
beyond  the  third  submarginal  cell 3. 

3.  Inner  margins  of  eyes  indented;  antennas  arising 
from  the  middle  of  the  face  not  far  above  the  clypeus, 
not  near  each  other;  apex  of  marginal  cell  touching  the 
front  margin Philanthus. 

Margins  of  eyes  not  indented;  antennae  arising  from 
above  the  middle  of  the  face,  near  each  otlier  or  the  clypeus ; 

apex  of  marginal  cell  not  touching  the  front  margin 

Aphilanthops. 

435 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


The  Peckhams,  in  their  account  of  SoHtary  Wasps,  have 
called  the  members  of  this  family  Grave  Diggers.  The 
name  was  probably  not  intended  to  be  distinctive;  its 
appropriateness  depends  upon  the  viewpoint  for,  as  is  the 
case  with  other  families,  the  grave  of  the  victims  is  the 
nursery  of  the  wasps.  Cerceris  stocks  up  with  beetles, 
especially  weevils;  while  Philanthus  uses  bees,  especially 
Halictus;  and  Aphilanthops,  queen-ants. 

Trypoxylonid^ 

Our  only  genus  is  Trypoxylon.  The  abdomen  is  narrow 
and  longer  than  the  head  and  thorax.  The  species  are 
either  all  black,  or  marked  with  red.  They  were  formerly 
accused  of  being  parasitic  because  they  had  been  reared 
from  nests  made  by  other  wasps.  Then  the  charge  was 
changed  to  laziness,  but  I  contend  that  they  do  well  to  use 
perfectly  good  mud-daubers'  nests,  and  the  like,  which 
are  no  longer  used  by  the  original  owners.  Small  species 
use  the  hollows  of  cut  straws  and  wood-boring  beetles' 
burrows.  Chinks  in  masonry  are  also  used.  If  the  chinks 
are  too  large,  they  may  be  made  smaller  by  plastering  them 
with  mud,  and  the  partitions  between  the  cells,  each 
containing  an  egg  and  sufficient  food  for  one  larva,  are 
made  of  mud.  The  nests  are  usually  provisioned  with 
spiders.  The  male  of  Trypoxylon  ruhrocinctum  is  excep- 
tional among  Hymenoptera  in  the  interest  he  takes  in 
household  affairs.  He  stands  guard  at  the  nest  while  the 
female  is  out  hunting  food. 

Larrid^ 

These  wasps  usually  nest  in  the  ground.  While  fairly 
numerous,  they  are  not  very  showy.  The  Larrinae  usually 
take  Orthoptera  for  larval  food;  and  the  Astatinae,  Homop- 
tera. 

I.     Metastemum  with  a  large  process  which  is  deeply 
indented  ventrally;  middle  tibiae  with  one  apical  spur; 

marginal  cell  with  an  appendage.     Larrinse 2. 

Metastemum  without  a  large,  deeply  indented  pro- 
cess; middle  tibiae  with  two  apical  spurs;  marginal  cell 

436 


SOLITARY  WASPS. 


truncate;  back  of  abdomen  flattened.  Astatinae.  For 
the  most  part,  they  are  less  than  .5  in.  long.  Astata  uni- 
color  (abdomen  black)  and  bicolor  (abdomen  red)  are 
common  species. 

2.  Hind  ocelli  perfect ;  inner  margins  of  eyes  nearly  parallel; 
pronotum  trilobed.  Lyroda  triloba  (wings  dark  all  over) 
and  subita  (wings  dark  at  tips).     Larval  food,  Nemobius. 

Hind  ocelli  imperfect,  flattened;  inner  margins  of 
eyes  converging  above;  pronotum  simple 3. 

3.  Front  of  head  strongly  raised  so  that  there  is  a  trans- 
verse ridge  below  front  ocellus;  mandibles  toothed  (in 
Larra  there  are  no  teeth);  hind  ocelli  narrow;  tip  of  abdo- 
men with  silver  pile.  Notogonidea  argentata;  larval  food, 
immature  crickets. 

Front  not  strongly  raised 4. 

4.  Hind  ("side")  ocelli  oval  or  elongate-oval  in  outline; 
front  not  raised  along  inner  margins  of  eyes ;  tip  of  abdomen 
without  pile.  Tachysphex.  There  are  a  number  of  species 
of  these  sand-loving  wasps. 

Hind  ocelli  larger  dorsally  so  that  they  appear 
hooked 5. 

5.  Front  slightly  raised  along  inner  margins  of  eyes; 
pygidium  without  pile.     Larropsis  distincta. 

Front  not  raised  along  inner  margins  of  eyes;  pygidium 
clothed  with  pile.  Tachytes  of  which  we  have  numerous 
species,  all  probably  nesting  in  sand  and  stocking  their 
nests  with  grasshoppers. 


Bembecid^ 

All  of  this  family  nest  in  the  ground.  Bicyrtes  seems 
to  prefer  Hemiptera  as  larval  food  and,  after  stocking  the 
nest,  seals  it  up.  The  other  species,  mentioned  here,  use 
flies  and,  unlike  most  solitary  wasps,  feed  their  larvae  from 
day  to  day.  Sometimes  a  large  number  of  individuals 
nest  close  to  each  other. 

I.  Mandibles  simple.  Microbembex,  monodonta  being 
the  specific  name  usually  given  to  all  from  the  Northeast; 
black  with  greenish-white  markings. 

Mandibles  having  a  tooth  within 2. 

437 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


2.  Propodeum  (apparently  the  hind  part  of  the  thorax) 
indented  behind.  Bicyrtes  (  =  Bembidula)  quadrifasciata 
(length  about  .75  in.;  metanotum  black;  abdominal 
spots  much  wider  at  the  sides),  and  ventralis  (about  .5  in. ; 
metanotum  with  yellow  spots;  abdominal  spots  but 
little,  if  any,  wider  at  the  sides). 

Propodeum  not  indented  behind,  straight  or  con- 
vex  3. 

3.  Front  ocellus  round  or  kidney-shaped.  Stictia  caro. 
Una  is  an  inch  long  and  marked  with  black  and  yellow. 

Front  ocellus  narrow.  Bembex,  of  which  spinola 
(Plate  XCII)  is  our  common  species. 

Sphecid/e 

These  are  the  Thread-waisted  Wasps.  There  have 
been  a  number  of  unfortunate,  but  necessary,  changes  of 
scientific  names.  Most  confusing  of  these  is  the  use  of 
Sphex  for  what  had  been  called  Ammophila.  I  fear  the  end 
is  not  yet. 

Chlorion  is  distinguished  from  the  rest  of  the  family 
by  the  second  and  third  submarginal  cells  each  receiving 
a  recurrent  vein;  in  the  others,  the  second  receives  both. 
The  females  make  burrows  in  the  ground  for  nurseries. 
The  following  subgenera  (or  genera)  occur  in  the  Northeast 
and  elsewhere. 

1.  Second  submarginal  cell  wider  than  long 2. 

This  cell  longer  than  wide 3. 

2.  Tarsal  claws  with  one  inner  tooth.  Chlorion,  in  a 
restricted  sense.  Provisions  its  nests  with  crickets. 
Our  common  bronze-  or  purplish-blue  species  is  cyaneum. 

Claws  with  3  to  6  teeth.  Priononyx;  abdomen  of 
bifoveolatum  is  reddish  or  yellowish,  that  of  atratum  is 
dark  brown  or  black.  The  latter,  at  least,  provisions  with 
grasshoppers. 

3.  Petiole  of  abdomen  more  than  twice  the  length  of  the 
hind  coxas;  marginal  cell  not  extending  beyond  the  third 
submarginal  cell Isodontia. 

Petiole  of  abdomen  as  long,  or  only  a  little  longer 
than,  hind  coxas;  marginal  cell  extending  beyond  the  third 

438 


BEES. 

submarginal  cell.  Ammobia  (formerly  called  Sphex); 
pennsylvanicum  has  black  abdomen  and  legs;  for  ichneu- 
moneum,  see  Plate  XCII.  The  nests  are  stocked  with 
grasshoppers. 

In  Sphex  (in  a  limited  sense)  the  petiole  is  composed 
of  the  entire  first  and  part  of  the  second  abdominal  seg- 
ment. Species  of  this  genus  stock  their  underground 
nest  with  paralyzed  caterpillars.  S.  abhreviata  (abdomen 
black)  and  procera  (abdomen  partly  red)  usually  have 
complete,  transverse  striae  on  the  back  between  the  wings. 
Plate  XCII  shows  urnaria.  Psammophila  is  considered 
by  some  to  be  a  subgenus  of  Sphex,  and,  like  it,  has  a  U- 
shaped  dorsal  area  at  the  hind  end  of  the  thorax,  but  the 
petiole  is  not  especially  long  and  is  one-jointed,  the  second 
abdominal  segment  being  bell-shaped. 

Chalyhion  and  Sceliphron  have  a  U-shaped  area  on  top 
of  the  thorax  at  the  hind  end.  See  Plates  XCI  and  XCII; 
both  species  provision  their  clay  nests  with  spiders.  The 
markings  of  5.  cementarius,  the  Mud-dauber,  vary  con- 
siderably; its  flat  nests  are  to  be  found  on  the  rafters  of 
nearly  every  garret. 


APOIDEA 

Although  wasps  visit  flowers,  they  usually  do  so  in 
their  individual  interest :  to  secure  food  for  themselves  and 
not  to  provide  for  their  offspring.  Bees,  on  the  other  hand, 
not  only  eat  pollen  and  nectar  themselves  but,  except  for 
the  "cuckoos"  which  lay  their  eggs  in  other  bees'  nests, 
store  their  nests  with  honey  (modified  nectar)  and  pollen. 
Although  they  thus  take,  in  the  aggregate,  large  quantities 
of  pollen,  they  are  of  great  benefit  to  the  plants  because 
they,  incidentally  and  unconsciously,  transfer  this  sub- 
stance from  one  flower  to  another,  thus  fertilizing  the 
ovum,  which  develops  into  a  seed.  Male  bees  have  13- 
jointed  antennae  and  7  visible,  abdominal  segments; 
females,  one  less  of  each.  Only  the  Bombidas  and  Apidae 
have  developed  a  "worker  caste."  In  other  families,  the 
mother  does  the  work  of  provisioning  the  nest,  carrying 

439 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


home  pollen  on  her  hind  legs,  on  the  hairs  of  her  abdomen 
(e.  g.  Megachile),  and  in  other  ways,  and  regurgitating, 
as  honey,  the  nectar  she  swallowed. 

In  general,  the  Panurgid^,  Prosopid^,  Stelidid^, 
Megachilid^,  and  a  few  Nomadid^  have  but  2  sub- 
marginal  cells,  and  the  remainder  have  3,  but  this  rule  is 
not  without  exceptions.  As  a  rule,  the  females  and  most 
males  of  Halictid.e  to  Anthophorid^  (p.  444),  inclusive, 
have  a  flat,  triangular  area  on  the  last  dorsal,  abdominal 
segment,  the  other  families  lacking  it.  In  the  Honey-bee 
(p.  453)  the  marginal  cell  is  very  long  and  the  posterior 
tibiae  have  no  apical  spurs.  These  and  the  following  notes 
apply  principally  to  Atlantic  Coast  species. 

HALICTIDiE 

For  the  most  part  small  bees;  the  first  discoidal  cell 
is  not  as  long  or  scarcely  longer  than  the  marginal  cell  which 
is  not  square-cut  at  the  tip ;  basal  vein  rounded  posteriorly, 
first  recurrent  vein  not  meeting  the  first  transverse  cubital; 
second  recurrent  not  sinuate;  first  submarginal  cell  con- 
spicuously longer  than  the  third  and  often  as  long  as  the 
second  and  third  combined ;  stigma  well  developed,  lanceo- 
late; hind  basitarsi  narrower  than  tibise.  The  labrum  is 
not  free  from  the  mandibles  and  not  as  large  as  the  clypeus, 
which  is  hardly  protuberant;  tongue,  acute,  flat;  no  pubes- 
cent depressions  in  the  face.     See  also  Andrenidse. 

There  are  two  main  divisions  which  may  be  classed  as 
genera:  Sphecodes  (abdomen  smooth,  shining,  naked,  the 
chitin  usually  red  and  black,  fifth  segment  of  female's 
without  a  furrow)  and  Halictus  (abdomen  usually  not  shiny, 
segments  i  to  4  or  5  usually  fringed  at  apex  with  pale 
pubescence,  fifth  of  female's  with  a  median  longitudinal 
furrow).  Augochlora  (body  entirely  metallic  blue  or 
green;  first  rectirrent  vein  usually  ending  at  or  near  the 
apex  of  the  second  submarginal  cell)  and  Agapostemon 
(males  have  only  the  head  and  thorax  metallic  colored; 
first  recurrent  vein  received  by  the  second  submarginal 
cell  near  the  middle;  Plate  XCIV)  may  be  classed  as  sub- 
genera of  Halictus,  although  other  systems  are  used  by 
good  authorities. 

440 


BEES. 

Sphecodes,  the  Wasp-bees  (so-called  from  their  re- 
semblance to  small  wasps,  Plate  XCIII),  have  had  cham- 
pions who  opposed  the  charge  that  they  lay  their  eggs  in 
nests  prepared  by  others,  their  young  devouring  the  food 
and  doubtless  the  yotmg  of  their  hosts,  but  there  is  strong 
evidence  that  they  are  supported  by  their  relatives,  Halictns, 
and  possibly  by  other  bees.  The  other  HaUctidse  usually 
nest  in  the  ground,  frequently  making  branched  tunnels, 
many  individuals  selecting  the  same  restricted  area  for 
their  burrows.  Some  species  of  Halictus,  in  the  limited 
sense,  are  very  small  and  are  called  Sweat-bees  because 
they  seem  fond  of  alighting  on  perspiring  humanity. 
Some  of  the  species  are  among  the  first  bees  to  appear  in 
the  spring.  The  pupae  are  enclosed  in  transparent,  skin- 
like cocoons. 

AXDRENID^ 

These  are  usually  black  (with  pale  pubescence),  medium- 
sized  bees.  They  are  closely  related  to  the  Halictidas 
but  the  basal  vein  is  almost,  or  quite,  straight,  and  the 
face,  at  least  of  females,  has  pubescent  depressions.  In 
Melitta  (apical  joint  of  antennae  obliquel}^  truncate;  ocelli 
placed  in  a  curve)  and  Andrena  (that  joint  not  obliquely 
truncate;  ocelli  placed  in  a  triangle)  the  first  submarginal 
cell  is  conspicuously  longer  than  the  third  but  in  the 
southern  Nomia  it  is  about  the  same  length.  Our  only 
species  of  Melitta  is  americana. 

Andrena  (Plate  XCIII),  our  principal  genus,  is  extremely 
well  supplied  with  species.  They  all  seem  to  nest  in  the 
ground  but  the  sites  chosen  for  their  burrows  vary  greatl}^ 
Some  species  make  simple  tunnels,  others  branched,  but 
none  seem  to  do  much  more  than  smooth  the  sides  and 
stock  each  tunnel  or  branch  with  a  pill  of  pollen  and  an! 
egg,  filhng  the  opening,  of  course,  with  loose  dirt.  At 
least  some  of  the  species  have  two  generations  a  year,  and 
it  is  not  unlikely  that,  in  some  cases,  what  we  now  call 
distinct  species  are  merely  the  alternate  generations  of 
one. 


441 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


PANURGIDiE 


The  marginal  cell  is  sharply  truncate  at  the  tip  and 
the  lower  comer  has  an  appendicular  vein  except  in  Halic- 
toides.  This  genus  is  often  put  in  a  separate  family, 
Dufouridas.  It  differs  from  the  other  genera  in  also 
having  the  labrum  free  from  the  mandibles  and  as  large 
as  the  clypeus.  With  the  exception  of  Protandrena, there 
are  only  two  submarginal  veins.  The  stigma  is  large. 
The  chitin  often  has  yellow  markings;  the  clypeus  is 
hardly  protuberant;  and  the  tongue  is  acute  and  flat. 
Macropis  (often  put  in  a  separate  family,  Macropidae) 
has  the  hind  basitarsi  as  broad  as  the  tibias.  In  Perdita 
(Plate  XCIII)  the  marginal  cell  is  not  longer  than  the 
stigma ;  they  are  small  bees  with  the  head  and  thorax  usually 
metallic  dark  green  or  blue,  and  the  abdomen  usually 
with  light,  chitinous  markings.  In  Calliopsis  (hairy 
bees,  with  hairy  bands  on  the  abdomen)  and  Panurginus 
(abdomen  shiny  black,  unhanded)  the  marginal  cell  is 
relatively  longer;  the  head  and  thorax  are  not  metallic. 

NOMADID^ 

These  bees  are  usually  less  than  half  an  inch  long; 
some  are  almost  hairless,  with  yellow  or  red,  chitinous 
markings.  They  are  rather  wasp-like  in  appearance  and 
all  are  "cuckoos,"  lacking  pollen-collecting  apparatus 
and  living  in  the  nests  of  other  bees.  There  are  usually 
three  submarginal  cells;  the  first  recurrent  vein  does  not 
meet  the  first  transverse  cubital;  the  first  discoidal  cell  is 
much  longer  than  the  marginal,  which  is  rarely  longer 
than  the  first  two  submarginal  cells  united  and  not  trun- 
cate; first  portion  of  subdiscoidal  vein  shorter  than  the 
third  portion  of  the  discoidal;  clypeus  protuberant;  labrum 
large,  free,  convex;  tongue  elongate,  slender;  eyes  extend- 
ing to,  or  nearly  to,  the  base  of  the  mandibles.  In  Nomada 
(Plate  XCIV)  the  apex  of  the  marginal  cell  touches  the 
front  wing-margin  and  the  abdomen  has  chitinous  bands 
or  spots.  In  Epeolus  (maxillary  palpi  2-jointed)  and 
Triepeolus  (maxillary  palpi  3-jointed;  Plate  XCIII)  the 
apex  of  the  marginal  cell  is  obtuse  and  does  not  touch  the 

442 


Plate  XCIII 


Xenoqlo55Q 
pruinosa 


E^.^P^>^.^      ^^  CeratinQ 


bombiiormis 


duplQ 


OsmiQ 
liqnQria 


Meqachile    Dlanlhidium 
brevis  notalum 


Coelioxys 
dubitata 


Perdita 
8-mQCulQtQ 
Sphecodes  arvensis  Triepeolus 

donotus 


CoUeles 
compaotus 


AndrenD 
443 


f^OSOpjS 

ziz'iae 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


wing-margin;  abdomen  black  with  pale  bands  of  scale- 
like hair.  Neopasites  has  two  submarginal  cells;  marginal 
cell  very  obtuse;  maxillary  palpi  6-jointed. 

Anthophorid^ 

These  are  moderately  large,  hairy,  pollen-collecting 
bees.  The  clypeus  is  protuberant  and,  in  males,  usually 
yellow.  The  males  often  have  long  antennas.  The  tongue 
is  elongate  and  slender;  the  labrum  large,  free,  and  convex; 
eyes  extending  to,  or  nearly  to,  the  base  of  the  mandibles; 
marginal  cell  rarely  longer  than  the  first  two  submarginal 
cells  united;  first  recurrent  vein  not  meeting  the  first 
transverse  cubital;  first  portion  of  the  subdiscoidal  vein 
distinctly  longer  than  the  third  portion  of  the  discoidal; 
stigma  not  well  developed.  There  are  usually  3  submargi- 
nal cells. 

In  Anthophora  (Anthophoridae  in  a  limited  sense)  the 
marginal  cell  is  not  bent  away  from  the  front  wing-mar- 
gins; first  discoidal  cell  longer  than  the  marginal  cell; 
third  submarginal  cell  not  narrower  above  than  beneath. 
In  our  other  bees  of  this  group  the  first  discoidal  cell  is 
not  as  long  as,  or  scarcely  longer  than,  the  marginal  cell, 
which  is  bent  away  from  the  front. 

In  Melitoma  (pads  between  the  tarsal  claws;  tongue 
reaching  the  base  of  the  abdomen;  first  and  tliird  sub- 
marginal  cells  of  about  equal  length)  and  Emphor  (no  such 
pads;  first  submarginal  cells  longer  than  the  third,  which 
is  narrowed  towards  the  marginal)  the  vertex  is  not 
crested;  the  males'  antennas  are  only  slightly,  or  not  at 
all,  longer  than  the  female's  and  the  clypeus  is  not  pale. 
Of  Melitoma  we  have  only  taurea  (abdomen  cross-banded 
with  white),  and  of  Emphor  only  bombiformis  (Plate  XCIII) 
or,  in  the  North,  its  variety  fuscojubatus  (thorax  evenly 
covered  with  pale  hairs;  abdomen  black  except,  sometimes, 
for  scattered,  pale  pubescence  on  the  first  segment).' 
These  genera  have  been  put  in  a  separate  family,  Emphori- 
dce. 

Most  of  the  Eastern  Anthophorids  have  been  separated 
off  as  Euceridae.  They  differ  from  the  Emphoridas  in 
having  the  vertex  raised.     The  male's  clypeus  is  more  or 

444 


BEES. 

less  yellowish  and  his  antennae  are  noticeably  longer  than 
the  female's.  In  Tetralonia  (maxillary  palpi  6-jointed), 
Xenoglossa  (max.  palpi  5-jointed;  tarsal  claws  cleft),  and 
Cemolobus  (max.  palpi  5-jointed;  claws  toothed  but  not 
cleft)  the  lower  anterior  portion  of  the  orbits  have  a  large, 
somewhat  triangular,  space;  the  clypeus  is  remote  from 
the  eyes.  T.  atriventris,  X.  pruinosa  (the  name  referring 
to  the  frosted  bands  on  the  abdomen;  Plate  XCIII), 
and  C.  ipomcBCB  are  the  Northeastern  species.  In  Melts sodes 
the  orbital-malar  space  is  small;  clypeus  nearly  touching 
the  eyes;  maxillary  palpi  usually  4-jointed.  There  are 
numerous  species. 

The  habits  of  all  Anthophoridae  are  much  alike:  burrows 
are  made  in  the  ground  and  stocked  with  a  paste  of  pollen 
and  honey  for  larval  food. 

PROSOPID^ 

These  small  bees,  black  with  yellow  chitinous  markings, 
have  two  submarginal  cells,  the  second  of  which  is  squarish, 
slightly  if  any  longer  than  high,  and  conspicuously  shorter 
than  the  first ;  the  first  recurrent  vein  often  meets  the  first 
transverse  cubital;  the  marginal  cell  is  elongate  and  not 
square-cut  at  the  tip;  tongue  flat  and  bilobed;  face  pitted. 
Prosopis  (Plate  XCIII)  is  our  only  genus.  Perhaps  we 
should  use  the  names  HylcBus  and  Hylaeidae.  The  Masked 
Bees  have  been  accused  of  being  lazy  because  they  are 
even  less  hairy  than  such  confirmed  cuckoos  as  Nomada. 
However,  their  lack  of  hair  may  be  correlated  with  the 
fact  that,  unlike  other  industrious  bees,  they  do  not 
carry  pollen  on  the  outside  of  their  bodies.  They  first 
eat  it  and  then,  having  reached  their  nest,  regurgitate  it, 
mixing  it  with  honey,  to  prepare  food  for  the  babies  they 
never  live  to  see.  They  nest  in  raspberry  stalks  and  the 
like. 

COLLETIDiE 

The  first  recurrent  nervure  is  received  by  the  second 
of  the  three  submarginal  cells;  first  discoidal  cell  is  not 
as  long  or  scarcely  longer  than  the  marginal;  stigma  well 

445 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


developed;  second  recurrent  nervure  strongly  bent  out- 
ward in  its  lower  half;  tongue  flat  and  bilobed;  face  pitted. 
The  name  of  our  only  genus,  Colletes  (Plate  XCIII), 
means  Plasterer.  The  species  are  black,  with  light  hairs 
but  no  yellow,  chitinous  markings.  They  nest  in  holes, 
made  in  the  ground  or  in  loose  masonry,  and  often  a 
number  of  females  nest  close  to  each  other.  They  plaster 
the  sides  of  these  holes,  and  the  cells  which  they  make  in 
them,  with  a  secretion  that  dries  rapidly  to  form  "a  mem- 
brane more  delicate  than  the  thinnest  goldbeater's  skin, 
and  more  lustrous  than  the  most  beautiful  satin." 

Megachelid^ 

In  a  broad  sense,  this  includes  bees  having  two  sub- 
marginal  cells;  tip  of  marginal  pointed;  second  recurrent 
vein  not  bent  or  directed  outwardly  before  joining  the 
first  portion  of  the  subdiscoidal  vein;  face  not  pitted; 
tongue  long,  rather  thread-like.  The  under  side  of  the 
female  abdomen  has  pollen-collecting  hairs,  except  in  the 
cuckoo  genera.  The  second  submarginal  cell  is  much 
longer  than  high  and  almost  equal,  in  length,  to  the  first. 

Stelis  includes  black  bees  with  whitish  margins  on  the 
dorsal,  abdominal  segments,  and  with  cuckoo  habits.  The 
tarsal  claws  are  cleft,  having  an  inner  tooth  near  the  apex; 
male  abdomen  not  toothed  or  lobed  at  the  apex.  Coelioxys 
(Plate  XCIII)  is  also  a  lazy  genus.  The  abdomen  is 
narrowed  behind,  and,  in  the  males,  armed  with  teeth 
or  spines;  scutellum  usually  toothed  on  the  sides;  tarsal 
claws  simple  or  with  a  basal  tooth;  eyes  with  fine  hairs. 
Both  genera  have  been  put  in  families  of  their  own. 

The  industrious  members  of  our  Megachilidae  have  the 
tarsal  claws  as  described  for  Coelioxys.  In  Dianthidium 
(pads  between  tarsal  claws;  Plate  XCIII)  and  Anthidium 
(no  such  pads)  the  chitin  of  the  abdomen  bears  pale  mark- 
ings and  in  the  others  it  does  not.  The  former  makes 
nests  of  resin  on  rocks,  etc.;  the  latter  uses  the  down  off 
of  woolly-leaved  plants  for  nests  in  burrows.  Heriades 
(stigma  lanceolate,  well  developed;  head  considerably 
extended  behind  the  eyes)  and  Andronicus  (stigma  short, 
not  well  developed)  are  black  bees  with  tarsal  pads.     Osmia 

446 


BEES. 

(Plate  XCIII)  includes  metallic  green,  bluish,  or  purplish 
bees  with  tarsal  pads.  They  are  called  Mason-bees 
because  they  construct  small,  earthen  cells  under  stones, 
in  burrows  excavated  in  twigs  and  decaying  wood,  in 
deserted  snail-shells,  in  plant-galls,  and  elsewhere.  The 
last  to  be  mentioned  but  richest  in  species  is  Megachile 
(Plate  XCIII),  moderately  large  bees  without  pads  between 
the  tarsal  claws;  stigma  short,  not  well  developed;  tip  of 
marginal  cell  obtuse  and  separated  from  the  front  wing- 
margins.  The  species  of  Megachile  are  called  Leaf-cutters 
because  the  females  snip  more  or  less  circular  pieces  out  of 
leaves,  especially  of  roses,  and  of  petals.  These  pieces 
are  fitted  together  and  glued  so  skillfully  that  they  form 
tight,  thimble-shaped  cells,  snugly  filling  some  suitable, 
ready-made  space  or  burrows  which  the  females  make  in 
wood  or  earth.  Putnam  estimated  that  the  thirty  cells, 
arranged  in  nine  rows,  under  a  board  in  his  piazza  roof 
contained  at  least  a  thousand  pieces.  Reed  recorded 
nests  made  by  one  of  our  common  species,  brevis,  in  curled 
plum  leaves. 


Ceratinid^  and  Xylocopid^ 

The  Carpenter-bees  make  nests  in  wood  or  in  stems  of 
plants.  There  are  three  submarginal  cells;  the  first  dis- 
coidal  cell  is  not  as  long  as  or  scarcely  longer  than  the 
marginal  cell;  apex  of  sixth  dorsal,  abdominal  segment  of 
females  with  a  spine.  Ceratina  (Plate  XCIII)  in- 
cludes small,  dark  blue-green  bees  with  the  first  sub- 
marginal  cell  longer  than  the  second  and  about  as  long 
as  the  third;  stigma  well  developed,  lanceolate.  They 
dig  out  the  pith  of  elder,  raspberry,  etc.,  so  that  they  may 
have  tunnels  in  which  to  nest.  The  large  Carpenter-bees 
which  make  galleries  in  rather  solid  wood,  such  as  porch- 
posts,  are  Xylocopa  {virginica,  Plate  XCIV,  is  the  only 
Northern  species).  The  stigma  is  short  and  not  well 
developed;  first  submarginal  cell  shorter  than  the  second, 
third  almost  as  long  as  the  first  and  second  combined. 
They  are  given  to  biting  through  the  base  of  a  flower 
instead  of  getting  at  the  nectar  in  a  more  legitimate  way. 

447 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


BOMBID^ 


The  burly  Bumble-bees  are  so  conspicuous,  abundant, 

and  appealing,  that  I  am  giving  them  considerable  space. 

The  first  discoidal  cell  is  not  as  long  or  scarcely  longer 

than  the  marginal,  which  is  pointed  at  the  tip  and  extends 

far  beyond  the  apex  of  the  third  submarginal  cell;  the 

stigma  is  not  well  developed;  second  submarginal  cell  is 

rather  longer  than  either  the  first  or  third,  and  strongly 

produced  at  the  lower  basal  corner.     Psithyrus  is  a  lazy 

genus  that  lives  with  its  relatives.     There  are  no  workers, 

the  "  queen  "  living  in  a  Bomhus  nest  and  letting  the  Bomhus 

workers  bring  up  its  young.     Bombus  is  a  social  bee;  that 

is,  a  family  nest  is  made  and  the  older  daughters  do  not 

mate  but  give  their  attention  to  caring  for  the  nest  and 

feeding  their  younger  brothers  and  sisters.     The  best  book 

,  on  their  biology  is  by  Sladen,   The  Humble-bee,  its  life- 

history  and  how  to  domesticate  it.     As  might  be  guessed  by 

the  common  name  he  uses,  it  is  about  EngHsh  species, 

but  then  we  know  very  little  about  our  own. 

The  fertilized  female  ("queen")  passes  the  winter  in 
some  snug  retreat  and  early  in  spring  starts  her  nest,  it 
may  be  in  a  deserted  field-mouse's  burrow.  After  arrang- 
ing dried  grass  and  the  Hke  to  form  the  nest,  she  collects 
pollen  and  makes  a  pile  of  it,  moistened  with  honey,  on  the 
floor  of  the  nest.  She  also  makes  a  honey-pot  of  wax 
near  the  doorway  and  fills  it  with  rather  liquid  honey. 
Eggs  are  laid  on  the  pollen-mass,  covered  over  with  wax, 
and  more  or  less  incubated  by  the  queen,  especially  during 
inclement  weather.  At  such  times  she  feeds  out  of  the 
honey  pot.  When  the  larvae  hatch,  they  feed  on  the  pollen 
mass  under  the  waxen  coverlet,  which  the  mother  pierces 
from  time  to  time  in  order  to  give  them  special  meals  of 
honey  and  pollen,  chewed  up  together.  When  the  larv« 
have  attained  full  size  (it  takes  ten  days  or  two  weeks), 
each  spins  a  thin,  papery,  but  tough,  oval  cocoon  and 
pupates,  the  queen  brooding  on  the  cocoons  and  sipping- 
from  her  honey-pot.  In  a  week  or  two  the  first  workers 
emerge  and  take  up  the  household  duties.  Workers 
are  females  but  smaller  than  queens;  males  and  queens 
are  not  born  until  late  in  the  season. 

448 


KEY  TO  THE  BUMBLE-BEES. 


The  following  key  is  to  the  species  of  the  Atlantic  Coast 
of  the  United  States.  The  more  western  and  extremely 
variable  rufocinctus  is  omitted.  P.  stands  for  Psithyrus; 
B.  for  Bombus;  and  B.B.  for  Bombias,  a  subgenus  of 
Bombus.  "Occiput"  is  the  top  of  the  head.  "Pleura" 
refers  to  the  side  of  the  thorax  especially  in  front,  below 
the  front  wings.  "Scutellum"  is  the  triangular  hind 
part  of  the  top  of  the  thorax.  "Interalar  band"  is  on  the 
top  of  the  thorax,  between  the  wings.  The  "malar 
space"  is  between  the  eyes  and  the  jaws.  The  "supra- 
orbital line"  is  an  imaginary  line  from  the  top  of  one  com- 
pound eye  to  the  top  of  the  other.  The  notes  on  color 
refer  to  the  color  of  the  hairs,  not  to  the  chitin;  and  the 
upper  side  of  the  abdomen  is  all  that  is  considered  when 
giving  its  color. 

1.  Divisions  of  tarsal  claws  very  unequal;  12  antenna! 
joints;  6  visible,  abdominal  segments  (Females) 2. 

Divisions  of  tarsal  claws  subequal;  13  antennal  joints; 
7  visible,  abdominal  segments  (Males) 15. 

Females 

(The  female  of  P.  tricolor  is  imknown  unless  fernaldcs 
be  it.) 

2.  Outer  face  of  hind  tibise  convex  and  hairy.  Psithyrus.  3. 
Outer  face  of  hind  tibiae  concave  and  bare,  except  at 

margins.     Bombus 5, 

3.  Occiput  black  with  little  or  no  yellow;  lower  portion 
of  pleura  with  dark  hairs P.    ashtoni. 

Occiput  with  much  yellow 4. 

4.  Thorax  without  interalar,  black  hairs  but  disk  bare; 
pleura  light;  little  or  no  yellow  on  fourth  abdominal  seg- 
ment; face  largely  dark P.  laboriosus. 

Thorax  with  interalar,  black  hairs;  pleura  mostly 
light;  no  reddish  on  fifth  abdominal  segment  but  yellow, 
at  least  on  the  sides,  on  the  fourth P.  insularis. 

Thorax  with  or  without  interalar,  black  hairs;  lower 
pleura  yellow  or  dark;  fourth  abdominal  segment  almost 
entirely  covered  with  yellow;  often  with  reddish  on  sides 
of   fifth;    apical,    abdominal   segment   very   pointed   and 

strongly  recurved P.  fernalda, 

29  449 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


5.  No  distinct  interalar,  black  band 6. 

Black  interalar  band 9. 

6.  First  to  fourth  abdominal  segments  largely  yellow. 

B.  fervidus  dor  salts. 
Third  and  fourth  segments  largely  black 7. 

7.  Ocelli  large,  the  lateral  ones  farther  from  each  other 
than  from  the  margins  of  the  eyes  and  below  the  supra- 
orbital line;  occiput  and  face  largely  black;  first  abdominal 
segment  yellow,  the  others  black  except  for  (usually) 
brownish  at  the  middle  of  the  base  of  the  second 

B.  B.  separatus. 
Ocelli  small 8. 

8.  First  abdominal  segment  yellow,  second  and  following 
segments  without  yellow;  occiput  largely  yellow;  face 
wide  and  largely  black B.  impatiens  (Plate  XCIV). 

First  abdominal  segment  yellow,  some  yellow  at  basal 
middle   of    the    second,    otherwise    the    abdomen    black; 

occiput  largely  yellow ;  face  long,  triangular,  black 

B.  himaculatus. 

First  abdominal  segment  largely  yellow;  the  yellow 
which  largely  covers  the  second  segment  is  notched  in  the 
middle  behind  and,  in  the  workers,  usually  mixed  with 
red;  third  to  fifth  black;  frequently  considerable  interalar 
black;  occiput  largely  black;  face  wide  and  black;  pleura 
yellow B.  affinis. 

First  and  second  segments  largely  yellow  and  re- 
mainder of  abdomen  largely  black;  disk  of  thorax  not  nude 
and  without  black;  pleura  usually  black;  occiput  largely 
yellow;  face  largely  black B.  per  plexus. 

First  and  usually  the  second  abdominal  segments 
yellow,  the  remainder  usually  largely  black;  pleura  yellow; 
disk  nude  and  with  scattered,  black  hairs;  occiput  largely 
yellow  in  queens  and  usually  so  in  workers;  face  long  and 
largely  black B.  vagans. 

9.  Second  and  third  abdominal  segments  red,  second  and 
fourth  largely  yellow,  the  remainder  black 

B.  ternarius  (Plate  XCIV). 
Third  and  following  segments  black,   the  first   two 

largely  yellow 10. 

Third  segment  yellow 11. 

10.  Ocelli  large,  separated  from  each  other,  and  below 

450 


Plate  XCIV 

Bombus 


mpatiens 


ernanus 


«f-^ 


Nomada  luteola    Agapobtemon  radiatus 


i 


KEY  TO  THE  BUMBLE-BEES. 


the  supra-orbital  line;  yellow  on  second  segment  neithei 

notched  nor  mixed  with  red ;  face  and  occiput  black 

B.  B.  fraternus. 
Otherwise,  see  B.  affinis  (8). 

11.  First  to  fourth  segments  yeUow,  the  remainder 
largely  black 12. 

Fourth  segment  black,   also  pleura  and  often  the 
scutellum 13. 

12.  Pleura  black;  face  and  occiput  largely  light 

B.  bor-ealis. 

Pleura   largely   yellow;   face    (largely)   and   occiput 

black B.  fervidus. 

13.  Ocelli  large,  separated,  and  below  the  supraorbital 
line;  first  abdominal  segment  largely  black,  second  largely 
yellow,  third  yellow,  the  remainder  black;  occiput  either 
black  or  yellow;  face  black B.B.  auricomus. 

Otherwise 14. 

14.  Second  and  third  abdominal  segments  3^ellow,  the 
remainder  black  except  that  there  is  often  considerable 
yellow  on  the  fifth  and  sixth;  face  (largely)  and  occiput 
black B.  terricola. 

First  (largely),  second,  and  third  abdominal  segments 

yellow,  otherwise  black ;  face  and  occiput  black 

B.  pennsylvanicus  (Plate  XCIV). 

Males 

15.  Ocelli  large,  the  lateral  ones  not  much,  if  any,  more 
than  their  diameter  from  the  margins  of  the  eyes,  and 
below  the  supraorbital  line;  eyes  bulging 16. 

Ocelli  otherwise 18. 

16.  First  (usually),  second,  and  third  abdominal  seg- 
ments yellow,  the  remainder  largely  black;  sometimes 
interalar  black;  third  antenna!  segment  as  long  as  the 
fourth  and  fifth  combined B.  B.  auricomus. 

Otherwise   colored  and  third  antennal  segment  at 
most  not  much  longer  than  the  fifth 17. 

17.  First  abdominal  segment  yellow,  the  remainder  black 
except  for  brownish  on  basal  middle  of  the  second  and, 
sometimes,  yellow  at  sides  of  third;  face  largely  yellow. 

B.  B.  separatus. 

451 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


First  and  second  abdominal  segments  yellow,  the 
remainder  largely  black;  face  largely  black.  .B.  B.fmternus. 

1 8.  Second  and  third  abdominal  segments  red;  first 
(largely)  and  fourth  yellow ;  fifth  and  sixth  black ;  interalar 
black;  pleura,  face,  and  occiput,  yellow B.  ternarius. 

Third  segment  not  red 19. 

19.  Sixth  and  seventh  abdominal  segments  largely  red, 
the  others  variable;  face  largely  black;  occiput  yellow.  . 

P.  tricolor. 
Sixth  segment  not  largely  red 20. 

20.  First  and  fourth  abdominal  segments  black;  second 
and  third  yellow;  the  remainder  variable;  interalar  black; 
pleura  black;  face  largely  yellow B.  terricola. 

First  abdominal  segment  largely  yellow 21. 

21.  First  to  fourth,  inclusive,  abdominal  segments  largely 
yellow 22. 

Not  so 23  (and  also  B.  perplexus,  22). 

22.  First  abdominal  segment  usually  with  some  black, 
fifth  usually  black;  interalar,  pleura  usually,  and  scutellum 
sometimes,  black;  occiput  black;  .6  to  i  in.  long 

B.  pennsylvanicus  (Plate  XCIV). 

No  black  on  first  or  fifth  abdominal  segments;  inter- 
alar sometimes,  and  scutellimi,  yellow;  interalar  usuall}^ 
and  occiput  black;  .4  to  .7  in.  long B.  fervidus. 

No  black  on  the  first  but  usually  on  the  fifth  abdomi- 
nal segments;  interalar  and  usually  the  pleura  black; 
occiput  and  sometimes  the  pleura  yellow.  .  .  .B.  borealis. 

No  black  on  the  first  abdominal  segment,  but  the 
fourth  and  fifth  usually  black  although  the  whole  abdo- 
men may  be  yellow;  interalar,  occiput,  and  usually  the 
face  and  pleura,  yellow;  face  triangular,  not  long  (as  in 
fervidus  and  borealis) B.  perplexus. 

23.  Second  abdominal  segment  with  little  or  no  black. .  24. 
This  segment  with  considerable  black 25. 

24.  Occiput,  interalar,  and  pleura,  largely  yellow;  face 
largely  black ;  first  abdominal  segment,  usually  the  second, 
and  sometimes  the  third,  yellow;  abdomen  otherwise 
black P.  laboriosus. 

Occiput  (usually  largely)  and  face  black;  interalar 
often  with  much  black;  pleura,  and  most  of  the  first 
abdominal  segment,  yellow;  yellow  of  the  second  segment 

452 


THE  HONEY=BEE. 


usually  mixed  with  red  and  notched  behind;  remainder 
of  the  abdomen  without  yellow B.  affinis. 

Occiput,  pleura,  and  face  (largely)  yellow;  very  little, 
if  any,   interalar    black;     first  two  abdominal  segments 

yellow,  the  remainder  usually  black B.  vagans. 

25.  Face,  occiput  (usually),  and  pleura  black;  first 
(usually)  and  fourth  abdominal  segments  yellow,  the 
remiainder  largely  black P.  ashtoni. 

Face  (largely),  occiput,  and  pleura,  yellow;  first  and 
part  of  the  second  abdominal  segments  yellow,  the  re- 
mainder black .B.  himaculatus. 

Face  (usually),  occiput  (largely),  pleura,  and  first 
abdominal  segment  yellow;  remainder  of  abdomen  black. 

B.  impatiens. 

Apid^ 

Although  the  American  tropics  have  several  genera  of 
Stingless  Honey-bees,  our  only  species  of  this  family  is  the 
introduced  and  cultivated  Honey-bee  or  Hive-bee,  Apis 
mellifera  (see  p.  440).  The  color  of  the  abdomen  is  variable. 
It  is  probably  the  most  written-about  insect.  Maeter- 
linck's Life  of  the  Bee  is  a  classic.  Beekeeping  by  Phillips 
and  How  to  Keep  Bees  by  Airs.  Comstock  are  both  excel- 
lent. The  individuals  usually  seen  are  workers,  almost 
sexless  females.  As  in  other  bees,  and  many  other  insects 
as  well,  the  legs  are  not  concerned  solely  with  walking. 
Plate  XCIII  shows  the  device  {a)  on  the  front  legs  for 
cleaning  antennae,  and  a  part  of  the  pollen-gathering  appara- 
tus on  the  hind  legs.  The  basitarsus  [h)  has  pollen  combs 
on  the  inner  side  which  scrape  the  pollen  from  the  abdomen 
and  the  second  pair  of  legs.  This  pollen  is  a  sticky  mass 
because  of  honey  added  from  the  bee's  mouth.  It  is 
removed  from  these  pollen  combs  by  a  row  of  stiff  hairs 
at  the  end  of  the  tibia  and  then  is  pushed  upward  into  the 
corbicula  (c),  or  pollen  basket,  by  means  of  the  projection, 
which  is  just  below  the  tibial  combs,  shown  at  the  base 
of  the  basitarsus.  The  long  hairs  on  each  side  of  the 
corbicula  prevent  the  load  from  slipping  sideways.  The 
notch  between  the  tibia  and  tarsus  has  been  called  the 
wax-shears,  but  it  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  manipulation 
of  w^ax. 

453 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


The  swarming  of  the  honey-bee  brings  about  an  increase 
in  the  number  of  colonies  but  it  is  the  queen  of  the  old 
colony,  and  not  one  of  her  daughters,  which  goes  out  to 
form  the  new  colony.  The  stimulus  to  the  act  of  swarm- 
ing is  not  understood;  since  a  swarm  sometimes  starts 
without  a  queen,  she  can  not  be  the  instigator.  In  fact,  if 
she  is  detained  by  a  trap  or  in  some  other  way,  the  bees 
may  destroy  her  and  swarm  with  a  virgin  queen. 

The  swarming  bees  usually  cluster  on  a  branch  or  some 
other  support  before  going  to  a  cavity,  such  as  a  hollow 
tree,  in  which  to  start  the  new  colony.  The  old-fashioned 
idea  that  ringing  bells  or  beating  tin  pans  will  hasten  this 
clustering  is  a  mistaken  one.  If  there  be  a  delay  in  finding 
a  suitable  cavity,  unprotected  comb  will  be  made  on  the 
branch  where  the  bees  have  clustered. 

Shortly  after  the  swarm  has  departed,  a  young  queen 
which  has  been  left  behind  in  her  sealed-up  cradle  eats  her 
way  out,  takes  her  mating  flight  several  days  later,  and 
settles  down  to  her  work  at  the  old  stand  with  the  help  of 
such  of  her  unmarriageable  sisters  as  have  remained. 


454 


QALLS. 


Notes  on  some  of  the 

Galls  made  on  Plants  by  insects 

and  their  relatives 

Plant  Galls  are  interesting  to  the  zoologist  because  most 
of  them  are  made  by  animals;  to  the  botanist  because  of 
the  unsolved  problems  of  abnormal  plant  growth  they 
present;  and  to  all  of  us,  not  only  because  ornamental  and 
useful  plants  are  frequently  damaged  thereby,  but  also  be- 
cause much  of  our  food  is  dependent  upon  them.  Potatoes 
are  fungus  root-galls,  and  the  bacterial  root-galls  of 
legumes  are  Nature's  principal  agents  in  making  atmos- 
pheric nitrogen  available  for  plant  use.  Of  the  galls 
caused  by  insects,  the  only  ones  of  commercial  benefit 
are  the  oak  galls,  which  have  been  used  in  dyeing,  tanning, 
and  the  manufacture  of  ink. 

As  is  the  case  with  so  many  things  in  natural  history, 
we  must  go  back  to  Pliny  for  the  first  ideas  concerning 
plant  galls.  This  philosopher  knew  that  a  fly  was  pro- 
duced in  them,  but  he  did  not  associate  this  fly  with  the 
cause  of  the  gall  growth.  He  thought  that  galls  sprang 
up  in  a  night  and  that  the  fly  larv-ae  merely  devoured  this 
growth.  However,  the  interest  of  the  early  observers 
was  not  always  entirely  biological.  Important  prophecies 
were  deduced  as  to  the  events  of  the  coming  year  by 
observing  whether  galls  contained  spiders,  worms,  or  flies. 

The  constant  occiurence  of  certain  larvae  within  certain 
galls  at  length  aroused  the  suspicion  that  galls  were 
formed  by  the  larvae.  To  account  for  the  presence  of  the 
egg  and  larvae,  it  was  supposed  that  the  female  insect  laid 
the  egg  in  the  ground  and  thence  it  was  drawn  up  with  the 
sap  and  carried  to  the  outer  parts  of  the  plant,  where  it 
lodged  and  gall  formation  ensued.  This  theory  soon 
met  with  opposition.  Redi,  a  poet  and  physician  of  the 
seventeenth  centiuy,  not  having  seen  the  eggs  laid,  as- 
sumed that  the  plant  had  a  "vegetable  soul"  which  pro- 
duced galls  with  their  eggs,  larvse,  etc.,  while  at  the  same 
time,  it  gave  birth  to  flowers,  fruits,  and  seeds. 

455 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Sprengel,  1793,  is  credited  with  having  been  the  first  to 
point  out  cross-fertilization  in  plants,  but  this  is  a  mistake. 
Thirty  years  before,  Filippo  Arena,  an  Italian,  wrote 
rather  fully  on  the  subject  and,  noting  the  cross-polli- 
nation by  insects,  stated  that  galls  were  developed  by  the 
plants  for  the  express  purpose  of  having  insects  ready  at 
hand  for  the  sake  of  pollination. 

Malpighi,  late  in  the  seventeenth  century,  was  the  first 
to  record  the  fact  that  the  production  of  galls  followed  the 
puncture  of  vegetable  tissues  by  insects,  and  he  came  to 
the  conclusion  that  the  insects  inject  a  substance  into 
the  plant  tissue  which  produces  a  swelling  similar  to  that 
which  the  sting  of  a  bee  causes  in  animal  tissue.  Mal- 
pighi seems  to  have  been  correct.  At  least,  we  have,  as 
yet,  no  better  explanation  of  the  origin  of  galls. 

The  number  of  different  galls  caused  by  animal  parasites 
runs  into  thousands.  Almost  no  form  of  plant  life  is 
exempt.  Although  certain  of  the  higher  plants,  such  as 
the  oak,  willow,  rose,  and  goldenrod,  are  preeminently 
the  gall-bearing  plants,  still  algse,  fungi,  ferns,  and  gym- 
nosperms  come  in  for  their  share. 

Many  of  the  galls  of  woody  plants  have  been  omitted 
here,  but  those  of  herbaceous  plants,  including  grasses, 
have  been,  necessarily,  almost  ignored.  The  most  con- 
sistent work  with  these,  chiefly  Itonididae,  has  been  done 
by  Dr.  E.  P.  Felt,  State  Entomologist  of  New  York,  to 
whose  papers  the  student  must  be  referred.  The  one 
in  the  Ottawa  Naturalist,  Vol.  XXV.,  will  be  very  helpful. 


The  notes  and  illustrations  given  here  are  arranged 
according  to  the  plants  on  which  the  galls  occur  and  with 
but  little  reference  to  the  relationships  of  the  makers. 
The  illustrations  are,  for  the  most  part,  about  half-size. 
The  following  list  of  genera  will  help  to  make  the  relation- 
ships clear. 


Mites :    Acarus,  Eriophyes,  Phyllocoptes, 
KOMOPTERA;  Aphidid^:   Chermes,  Colopha,  Hamamelis- 
ies,  Hormaphis,  Pacliypsylla,  Pemphigus,  Phylloxera. 

456 


GALLS. 

LepidopterA;  Tortricid^:  Eiicosma. 
Gelechiid^  :     Gnorimoschema. 

DiPTERA;  AIycetophilid^:  Sciara. 

Itonidid^,  formerly  called  Cecidomyiidas : 
Aster  omyia,  Caryomyia,  Cecidomyia,  Cincticornia, 
Contarinia,  Dasyneura,  Hormomyia,  Itonida,  Lasi- 
optera,  Oligotrophus,  Retinodiplosis,  Rhahdophaga, 
Rhopalomyia,  Schizomyia,  Thecodiplosis. 

Trypetid^  :     Eurosta,  (Edaspis. 

Agrom  YZiDiE :     A  gromyza. 

HymenopterA;  Saw-flies:  Euura,  Pontania. 

CYXiPiDiE:  Acraspis,  Amphibolips,  Andricus, 
Aulax,  Biorhiza,  Callirhytis,  Cynips,  Diastrophus, 
Disholcaspis,  Dryophanta,  Gonaspis,  Holcaspis,  Neuro- 
terus,  Rhodites,  Solenozopheria. 


If  the  galls  are  inhabited,  a  clue  to  the  makers  may  be 
gained  by  a  study  of  the  inhabitants.  Mites  have  four 
pairs  of  legs,  at  least  when  full  grown;  no  wings;  and  are 
very  small.  Aphids  have  three  pairs  of  legs  and  they 
sometimes  have  wings.  Galls  made  by  both  of  these 
groups  are  usually  open.  Saw-flies  have  thoracic,  and 
usually  distinct  abdominal,  legs;  their  galls  usually  have  a 
large  hollow  on  the  inside.  Gall-making  Lepidopterous 
larvae  have  thoracic  but  no  abdominal  legs.  It  is  not  so 
easy  to  distinguish  Hymenopterous  and  Dipterous  larvae; 
and  it  should  always  be  remembered  that  galls  may  be 
inhabited  by  creatures  which  did  not  make  them — para- 
sites of  the  maker  and  also  inquilines,  "guests"  which 
avail  themselves  of  the  abundant  food  but  do  not  directl}^ 
injure  the  maker  of  the  gall.  Some  galls  are  complicated 
communities.  We  speak  of  creatures  "making"  the  galls; 
the  plants  really  do  this,  acting  on  some  (not  understood) 
stimulus  furnished  b}''  the  animals.  It  is  exceedingly 
curious  that  insects  which  are  so  similar  that  they  may  be 
distinguished  only  with  difficult}^  cause  such  different  and 
distinctive  galls.  In  addition  to  the  unknown  chemics 
of  the  process,  the  gall-causing  instinct  is  one  of  the  most 
mysterious  things  in  entomology. 

457 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


The  orange-colored  larva  of  Cecidomyia 
Conifers  pini-rigidcB  lives  in  a  basal  enlargement  of 

shortened,  deformed  needles  of  pitch  pine;  and  C.  halsami- 
cola,  of  balsam.  Thecodiplosis  ananassi  makes  a  brown, 
pineapple-like  gall  on  cypress.  Itonida  anthici  makes  a 
whitish,  flower-shaped,  fungus-like  growth  on  cypress. 
Retinodiplosis  resinicola  larvae  arc  orange  "grubs"  living 
in  clear  or  whitish  masses  of  pitch  on  the  under  side  of 
pitch-pine  branches;  R.  inopis,  in  resinous  masses  on 
scrub-pine  leaves. 


Pemphigus   populicaulis  makes  globular 
Poplar  and  g^^g  ^^   ^j^^   ^^^^  ^f   \ea.ves    (Plate  XCV, 

Fig.  i)\  P.  populi-transversus,  oval,  some- 
what elongated  galls  on  the  petioles;  P.  populi-vencB,  yel- 
low galls  on  midrib  of  leaf;  P.  vagabundus  folds  and 
crinkles  the  foliage.  Agromyza  aeniventris  causes  irregu- 
lar, somewhat  globular  enlargements  of  young  twigs. 


More  than  fifty  different  galls  have  been 
Willow  described.     See  Plate  XCV. 


Twigs 

Phytophaga  (also  put  in  Rhahdoplmga)  rigidcB  (Fig.  4); 
Rhabdophaga  batatas  (Fig.  3)  and  strobiloides  (Fig.  5).  R. 
strobiliscus  is  like  strobiloides  but  all  the  leaves  are  pointed  at 
the  tip.  R.  rhodoides  and  others  make  more  open  growths, 
resembling  small,  double  flowers.  R.  brassicoides:  bunches 
of  oval,  single-celled,  sessile  galls,  each  three-fourths  to 
two  and  a  fourth  inches,  "like  the  sprouts  of  a  cabbage 
stump,"  usually  not  near  tips  of  branches.  R.  triticoides: 
many-celled  and  resemble  a  wheat-head.  R.  nodulus: 
like  batatas  but  smaller,  more  solitary,  and  only  single- 
celled.  For  Euura  ovum  see  Fig.  6;  E.  nodus,  a  smooth 
twig  enlargement,  one-fourth  to  twice  normal  diameter; 
E.  orbitalis,  enlarged,  bud-gall. 

458 


Plate  XCV 


TBiOUf 


459 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Leaves 

Hormomyia  verruca:  about  .1  inch  in  diameter,  on  veins; 
about  evenly  divided  by  the  leaf,  the  upper  side  flattish 
or  with  a  minute  nipple,  the  lower  side  wart-like.  For 
Pontania  pomum  see  Fig.  7,  on  midrib.  P.  pisum:  pea- 
like, yellowish,  on  under  side  of  leaves.  P.  desmodioides: 
smooth,  flattish,  sessile,  yellowish-green,  about  equally 
divided  by  the  leaf.  P.  hyalina:  fleshy,  reddish,  in  parallel 
rows  on  either  side  of  the  midrib.  P.  borealis:  solitary, 
smooth,  reddish,  pear-shaped,  about  one-third  above  the 
leaf.  P.  consors:  gregarious,  hairy,  rather  spherical,  near 
leaf -base,  about  one-third  above  the  leaf.  P.  gracilis: 
spherical,  smooth,  near  petiole  to  one  side  of  midrib,  about 
equally  divided  by  leaf.  P.  terminalis:  green  swelling  on 
upper  siuiace;  the  leaf  eventually  rolls. 

Plate  XCV.     The  principal  twig-gall  is 
Hickory  Phylloxera  carycecaulis  (Fig.  13).     Numerous 

other  species  of  Phylloxera  make  galls  on  the  leaves.  Of 
these  the  petiole  bears  caryceren,  kidney-shaped;  suh- 
elliptica,  elongate,  nut-hke;  and  spinosa,  irregular,  spiny 
galls.  On  the  leaves,  those  of  caryceyence  axe  keel-like 
pleats  along  the  leaf- veins;  carycEfallax  crowded,  conical, 
on  upper  surface;  deplanata,  reddish-  or  greenish-j^ellow, 
conical  below;  depressa,  depressed,  fringed;  pilosula, 
hairy,  hght  green,  flattened  above,  below  convex  and  with 
a  nipple.  The  galls  of  Caryomyia  holotricha  (Fig.  8)  are 
pubescent;  carycecola  (Fig.  9),  smooth;  sanguinolenta 
(Fig.  10),  red;  tuhicola  (Fig.  11);  and  persicoides  (Fig.  12), 
brownish,  downy.  C.  cynipsea  makes  a  round,  hard, 
midrib  gall,  about  half  an  inch  across.  C.  nucicola  de- 
forms the  husks. 

Dasyneura  serrulatoe  causes  deformations, 
^*^®'  with   whitish    "bloom,"  of  terminal   buds 

(Plate  XCV,  Fig.  2). 


460 


Plate  XCVI 


461 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


More  than  three  hundred  different  galls 
^^^  have  been  listed. 

Leaves 

Plate  XCVI  shows  Amphiholips  confluentus  (Fig.  i), 
spongy  inside;  A.  inanis  (Fig.  2),  merely  larval  cell  and 
radiating  threads  inside;  A.  ilicifolicB  (Fig.  3);  A.  coelehs 
(Fig.  5);  Callirhytis  futilis  (Fig.  4),  somewhat  flattened^ 
projecting  on  both  sides  of  the  leaf,  inside  are  kernels 
kept  in  position  by  white  filaments;  C.  papillatus  (Fig.  7),. 
somewhat  nipple-shaped,  projects  on  both  sides,  sur- 
rounded by  a  reddish  areola;  C.  capsulus  (Fig.  9);  C. 
palustris  (Fig.  11),  hollow  inside  except  for  a  loose  kernel; 
Andricus  singularis  (Fig.  6),  something  like  a  small  inanis; 
Andricus  flocci,  also  called  lana  (Fig.  8),  like  a  mass  of 
wool  with  brown  kernels;  Andricus  petiolicola  (Fig.  10), 
many  celled. 

On  Plate  XCVII:  Andricus  piger  (Fig.  i),  under  side  of 
midrib;  Cynips prinoides  (Fig.  2),  shiny,  single-celled,  under 
side  of  leaf;  Cynips  pisum  (Fig.  3),  surface  finely  netted, 
two  cavities;  Acraspis  erinacei  (Fig.  4),  spines  red  when 
young;  Dryophanta  polita  (Fig.  5),  sometimes  grows  singly; 
Neuroterus  floccosus  (Fig.  6),  with  white  hairs,  under  side 
of  leaf;  N.  umhilicatus  (Fig.  7),  small  nipple  in  deep, 
central  depression,  under  side  of  leaf;  Cincticornia  pilulm 
(Fig.  8),  upper  side  of  leaf;  Cecidomyia  poculum  (Fig.  9), 
pale  red  to  light  lavender,  under  side  of  leaf;  Cecidomyia 
niveipila  (Fig.  12),  fold  lined  with  white  pubescence. 
Cynips  decidua  makes  galls  about  the  size  of  wheat-grains 
on  the  under  side  of  midrib,  often  30  on  a  leaf. 


462 


Plate  XCVII 


463 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Twigs  and  other  parts 

Plate  XCVII,  Fig.  lo,  shows  the  white,  shot-like  catkin 
gall  of  Andricus  pulchra  and,  Fig.  ii,  the  acorn  gall  of 
AmphihoUps  prunus. 

Plate  XCVII  I  shows  Callirhytis  cornigerus  (Fig.  i); 
C.  punctatus  (Fig.  2)  resembles  cornigerus  but  without 
"horns";  C.  seminator  (Fig.  3),  white  or  pinkish,  woolly; 
C.  similis  (Fig,  4),  usually  on  scrub-oak;  C.  clavula  (Fig. 
5),  usually  on  white  oak;  Cynips  strohilana  (Fig.  6),  hard 
and  corky,  with  a  single  cell  in  each  division ;  Disholcaspis 
globulus  (Fig.  7);  D.  duricaria  (Fig.  9),  with  sharp  point  at 
apex;  Biorhiza  forticornis  (Fig.  10),  pale  yellow  with  reddish 
tinge  when  fresh,  kernel  of  each  division  held  by  radiating 
fibers;  Neuroterus  hatatus  (Fig.  8),  pale  bluish  bloom,  corky, 
many  larval  cells;  N.  noxiosus  (Fig.  11),  hard,  woody, 
many  larval  cells. 


464 


Plate  XCVIII 


Qas 


465 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Plate  XCIX,  Fig.  i,  shows  galls  of  Colopha 
™  ulmicola.     Pemphigus  ulmifusus  makes  soli- 

tary, spindle-shaped  galls  on  the  upper  surface  of  red  elm 
leaves. 


Plate  XCIX   shows  Pachypsylla   cucur- 
ackberry  ^^-^^  (Fig.  4)  on  under  side  of  leaf,  concave 

in  the  middle,  with  a  small  nipple;  P.  vesiculum  (Fig.  5), 
flat,  blister-like,  convex  with  a  small  nipple;  P.  mamma 
(Fig.  6),  nearly  cylindrical,  apex  rounded  bluntly;  P. 
gemma  (Fig.  7),  variable  in  shape  and  size,  woody,  numer- 
ous cells;  P.  venusta  (Fig.  8),  on  petioles,  several  compart- 
ments. 


Plate  XCIX:  Hormaphis  kamamelidis 
Witch-hazel  ^^ig.  2),  greenish  or  reddish,  on  upper  side 
of  leaf;  Hamamelistes  spinosus  (Fig.  3),  green  or  reddish 
bud-galls. 


Plate      XCIX:       Cecidomyia      tulipifera 
Tulip-tree  ^pjg^  ^^ .  Thecodiplosis  liriodendri  (Fig.  10), 

brown  spots  with  a  yellow  or  greenish  areola. 


Plate   XCIX,    Fig.    11:     Cecidomyia    (?; 
*P^®  incorrectly  classed  in  Sciara;  probably  not 

a  Mycetophilid,  according  to  Dr.  Felt)  ocellaris,  light 
yellow  or  green,  usually  with  a  red,  central  dot;  it  has 
never  been  reared.  Phyllocoptes  acericola  make  slender, 
spindle-shaped  galls  on  the  upper  surface  of  sugar-maple 
leaves;  and  P.  quadripes,  small,  bladder-like  galls  on  the 
upper  surface  of  soft-maple  leaves. 


Plate  XCIX,  Fig.  12:    Pemphigus  rhois, 
Sumac  yellowish-green    tinged    with    red,    hollow, 

on  under  side  of  leaf. 

466 


Plate  XCIX 


talip>ttee 


467 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Plate  C  shows:     Rhodites  bicolor  (Fig.  i), 
*^°^®  yellowish-green  sometimes  tinged  with  red 

in  summer,  brown  in  winter;  R.  radicum  (Fig.  2),  on  root; 
R.  globulus  (Fig.  3),  smooth,  abrupt  at  ends;  R.  dichlocerus 
(Fig.  4),  tapering  at  ends,  reddish;  R.  roses.  (Fig.  5),  mossy 
mass  containing  hard  cells;  R.  ignota  (Fig.  8),  white-mealy 
surface,  rather  round,  sometimes  coalescing;  R.  verncB 
(Fig.  7),  reddish;  R.  lenticularis  (Fig.  6),  somewhat 
flattened. 


Plate  C,   Fig.   9:     Diastrophus  radicum, 
Raspberry  especially    on    roots    of    black    raspberry; 

varies  from  size  of  a  pea  to  2  x  i  inches. 


Plate  C:     Diastrophus  hassettii  (Fig.  10), 
Blackberry  ^^  ^^iQ  stems  of  trailing  blackberry  close 

to  the  ground;  greenish,  tinged  with  red,  pithy  with 
many  rounded  cells;  D.  nebulosus  (Fig.  11),  dark  green, 
turning  reddish;  D.  cuscutceformis  (Pig.  12).  Lasioptera 
farinosa  makes  an  irregularly  ridged,  warty,  light  brown 
swelling,  about  half  an  inch  long,  on  the  under  side  of 
leaf -veins;  L.  nodulosa,  an  irregular,  elongate  swelling  about 
an  inch  long  on  the  smaller  branches. 


Cecidomyia    bedeguar    makes    a    tufted, 
Crataegus  nearly  globular  gall,  about  half  an  inch  in 

diameter,  on  midribs ;  and  Hormomyia  cratcegifolia,  a  cocks- 
comb gall  on  the  leaves. 


Plate   C,    Fig.    13:     Gonaspis  potentillce, 
CinquefoU  ^^     ^j^-|g     q£    leaves,     single-celled.     Two 

species  of  Diastrophus,  niger  and  minimus,  make  galls  on 
the  stems. 


Plate  C:  Acarus  serotincB  (Fig.  14), 
Wild  Cherry  hollow,  stemmed  pouches,  opening  on 
under  side  of  leaf;  Cecidomyia  serotincB  (Fig.  15),  bright 
red  in  spring. 

468 


Plate  C 


CrnqnefoO 


VMCtaKf 


469 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Plate  CI:  Schizomyia  pomum  (Fig.  i), 
Grape  variable,  with  8  or  9  ridges  when  mature, 

numerous  longitudinal  cells  each  divided  by  a  partition; 
Cecidomyia  viticola  (Fig.  2),  green  or  red;  Lasioptera  vitis 
(Fig.  3),  yellowish-green  or  reddish,  on  stems  and  leaf- 
stalks. S.  coryloides  makes  a  rounded  mass,  about  2 
inches  in  diameter,  of  from  10  to  50  opaque,  woolly,  rather 
spindle-shaped,  green  galls.  Asteromyia  petiolicola  makes 
spindle-shaped  swellings  on  the  petioles.  For  Phylloxera 
vastatrix  see  page  88;  the  leaf -galls  are  hollow,  fleshy 
swellings,  which  are  rather  wrinkled  and  hairy,  on  the 
under  surface  of  leaves,  opening  above. 

Plate  CI,  Fig.  4:  Cecidomyia  impatientis, 
Touch-me-not  succulent,  semi-transparent,  containing  a 
number  of  cells,  at  base  of  flower  of  Impatiens.  Lasi- 
optera impatientifolia  causes  a  swelling  of  the  base  of  leaves. 


Plate  CI,  Fig.  5 :     Cecidomyia  verrucicola^ 
Linden  ajd         wart-like,  about  a  fifth  of  an  inch  in  di- 
ameter,   usually    formed    in    July.     Ceci- 
domyia citrina  deforms  young  terminal  buds;  Eriophyes 
abnormis,  top-shaped  galls  on  the  under  side  of  leaves. 


Plate  CI,  Fig.  6:  Lasioptera  clavula, 
Dogwood  contains   an   elongated   channel   inhabited 

by  a  single  larva. 

Plate  CI,  Fig.  7 :  Solenozopheria  vaccinii^ 
Huckleberry  ^^  stems  of  Vaccinium ;  the  illustration 
shows  an  old  gall  with  exit  holes. 


Plate  CI,  Fig.  8:  Aulax  tumidus  varies 
Wild  Lettuce  greatly,  on  main  stalk  of  Lactuca  canadensis, 
often  involving  the  flower-panicle. 


470 


Plate  CI 


471 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


Plate  CI:     Eurosta  solidaginis   (Fig.    lo 
Goldenrod  gj^^^g    ^^^^s    from    which    the    flies  have 

emerged),  pithy  inside  with  a  rounded  cell  in  the  center  on 
the  main  stalk ;  Rhopalomyia  solidaginis  (Fig.  1 1 ) ,  caused 
by  the  arrest  of  stalk;  (Edaspis  polita  (Fig.  12),  caused  by 
the  arrest  of  side  branches.  Lasioptera  solidaginis  makes 
a  gall  much  like  that  of  Eurosta.  Galls  made  by  two 
genera  of  moths  are  often  confused  with  these  but,  if  the 
larvae  are  present,  one  can  at  least  determine  whether  or 
not  they  are  Lepidopterous ;  to  mention  two  species:  the 
gall  of  Gnorimoschema  gallcesolidaginis  is  about  the  size  of 
Eurosta  but  is  more  tapering  (adults  emerge  in  September 
and  hibernate),  that  of  Eucosma  scudderiana  is  merely  an 
elongate  thickening  of  the  stem  near  the  flower  head 
(adults  are  found  from  June  to  August,  larvae  or  pupae 
hibernating).  The  aerial  gall  of  Rhopalomyia  hirtipes  is 
a  large  swelling  of  a  bud  "resembling  a  dried  prune  in 
texture;  hard  center";  it  also  makes  a  subterranean  root- 
stalk  swelling.  R.  fusifortnis  causes  a  ribbed,  elongate 
structure,  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  length,  which 
occurs  singly  or  in  masses  on  the  stem  or  foliage.  Species 
of  Asteromyia  live  mostly  in  galls,  which  are  apparently 
affected  with  fungus;  carbonifera  causes  a  black  blister 
and  roscB,  a  rosy  one;  similar  galls  occur  also  on  asters. 
About  1 50  kinds  of  galls  have  been  recorded  from  American 
Compositae. 

Plate  CI,  Fig.  9:  Contarinia  canadensis, 
succulent,  pale  green  and  sometimes  tinged 
with  red,  formed  in  May  or  June.  Eriophyes  fraxiniflora 
deforms  the  catkins ;  and  E.  fraxini  makes  numerous  galls 
on  a  single  leaf,  wart-like,  subdivided  by  irregular,  hairy 
curtains  within.  Dasyneura  tumidoscE  causes  a  gall  much 
like  pellex  but  on  the  base  of  the  midrib  and  apical  part 
of  the  petiole. 


472 


APPENDIX 


473 


APPENDIX 

C^^t*^  Chitin  is  a  definite  organic  chemical  com- 

^^^  pound  that  is  found  in  the  skin  of  most 

Arthropoda  (p.  32),  as  well  as  in  some  other  invertebrates 
and  in  certain  fungi.  The  parts  of  an  insect's  skin  which 
contain  chitin  are,  for  that  reason,  hard  and  tough,  in 
contrast  with  other  parts  such  as  those  between  the  seg- 
ments of  the  body  or  the  joints  of  the  appendages.  Chitin 
is  insoluble  in  water,  alcohol,  ether,  acetic  acid,  dilute 
mineral  acids,  and  dilute  alkalies. 

T?"ii-     T.  XX,  It  has  become  rather  difficult  for  those 

Killing  Bottles  -,      .  , 

Page  16  ^°t  connected  with  scientific  institutions  to 

get  cyanide  of  potassium  and  there  is  a  ra- 
ther needless  fear  that  cyanide  bottles  are  dangerous  in  the 
hands  of  children.  Several  entomologists  have  reported 
good  success  with  Carbona,  a  fluid  that  is  sold  for  cleaning 
purposes.  I  have  not  used  it  myself  and,  therefore,  can  not 
vouch  for  its  general  adaptability.  Cotton,  saturated  with 
Carbona,  is  kept  in  an  olive  bottle  or  something  of  the  sort 
and  specimens  are  killed  by  putting  them  into  this  bottle 
for  a  few  minutes. 

Control  of  Thoreau   said:   "We   accuse   savages  of 

Injurious  In-  worshipping  only  the  bad  spirit  or  devil, 
sects  Though  they  may  distinguish  both  a  good 

^^^  ^"^  and  a  bad,  they  regard  only  the  one  which 

they  fear,  worship  the  devil  only.  We  too  are  savages  in 
this,  doing  precisely  the  same  thing.  This  occurred  to  me 
yesterday  as  I  sat  in  the  woods  admiring  the  beauty  of  the 
blue  butterfly.  We  are  not  chiefly  interested  in  birds  and 
insects,  for  example,  as  they  are  ornamental  to  the  earth 
and  cheering  to  man,  but  we  spare  the  lives  of  the  former 
only  on  condition  that  they  eat  more  grubs  than  they  do 
cherries,  and  the  only  account  of  the  insects  which  the 
State  encourages  is  of  the  insects  injurious  to  vegetation." 
The  appendix  to  the  present  book  gives  notes  on  introduced 
pests  which,  alone,  would  justify  all  the  work  that  has  been 

475 


APPENDIX. 

done  in  economic  entomology,  but  it  should  be  remembered 
that  less  than  half  of  one  percent  of  the  different  kinds 
of  insects  are  distinctly  injurious  to  man  or  his  crops  and 
many  times  that  number  are  distinctly  beneficial,  either 
directly  or  by  controlling  injurious  species.  Parasitic  and 
predacious  insects  do  much  more  in  the  latter  field  than  do 
birds. 

Ticks  are  not  insects  but  mites  (p.  32). 
All  but  the  very  young  have  four  pairs  of 
legs;  the  "seed  ticks"  have  only  three  pairs.  The  abdo- 
men is  neither  distinctly  segmented  nor  separated  from  the 
head-thorax.  The  distinctions  between  the  various  kinds 
of  ticks  are  rather  technical;  see  the  bulletin  of  the  U.  S. 
Dept,  of  Agriculture,  Bureau  of  Entomology,  Technical 
Series,  No.  15,  by  Banks.  Margaropus  annulatus  is  the 
principal  cattle  tick  of  the  Southern  States  and  the  dis- 
tributor of  Texas  Fever.  Dermacentor  venustus  of  the 
Northwest  is  guilty  of  carrying  Rocky  Mountain  Spotted 
Fever.  The  common  eastern  species,  Dermacentor  vari- 
abilis, has  not  been  proved  guilty  of  bearing  diseases. 


Key  to  the  Orders  of  Commonly  Observed  Insects. 

Page  39 

No  "key"  (see  p.  27)  is  necessary  in  order  to  place  most 
of  the  commonly  observed  insects  in  their  proper  orders 
(see  p.  5),  provided  we  remember  that  the  True  Flies  have 
no  more  than  two  wings  and  compose  the  order  Diptera; 
Beetles  usually  have  hard  front  wings  and  are  the  Coleop- 
tera;  Butterflies  and  Moths  are  the  Lepidoptera;  Wasps, 
Bees,  and  Ants  are  the  Hymenoptera;  True  Bugs  have 
sucking  mouth  parts  and  are  Hemiptera;  and  members  of 
the  Grasshopper  group  are  Orthoptera. 

The  following  key  is  offered  for  the  use  of  the  increas- 
ingly large  number  of  nature-lovers  who  wish  to  go  more 
deeply  into  the  details  of  insect  classification.  At  the  same 
time,  I  have  tried  to  simplify  the  subject  by  omitting  cer- 
tain forms  that  are  almost  certain  not  to  be  noticed  by  any 
but  the  specialist. 

476 


APPENDIX. 

1.  Winged  insects 2 

Wingless    insects,    including    the    young    of    winged 

adults 23. 

2.  The  front,  or  mesothoracic,  wings  (those  on  the  same 
segment  as  the  second  pair  of  legs)  entirely  membranous, 
except  for  the  "veins,"  and  not  bearing  scales 3. 

These  wings  bearing  scales,  usually  enough  to  hide  the 
veins.    Butterflies  and  Moths.    Lepidoptera  (p.  115). 

These  wings  not  bearing  scales  but  being  in  part,  at 
least,  homy,  leathery,  or  parchment-like 18. 

3.  Only  one  pair  of  wings 4. 

Two  pairs  of  wings 6. 

4.  Abdomen  with  a  pair  of  caudal  filaments 5. 

Abdomen  with  no  caudal  filaments;  a  pair  of  knobbed 

structures  (halteres  or  "balancers")  where  hind  wings 
would  be.     True  Flies.     Diptera  (p.  229). 

5.  Cross-veins  between  the  long  veins  abundant  in  wings. 
Certain  rare  May-flies.     Plectoptera  (p.  40). 

No    cross-veins.      Male    Scale-insects.       Homoptera 

(p-  91)- 

6.  Wings  very  narrow  and  almost  veinless;  the  margins 
fringed  with  long  hairs.  Not  more  than  two  tarsal  joints, 
the  terminal  one  being  swollen.  Mouth  fitted  for  sucking. 
Small  insects.    Thrips.    Thysanoptera  (p.  79). 

Not  so 7. 

7.  Hind  wings  larger  than  the  front  ones  and  with  the 
hind  (when  the  wings  are  expanded)  part  folded  like  a  fan 
when  the  insect  is  at  rest 8. 

Not  so 10, 

8.  Tarsi  three-jointed.  Body  somewhat  flattened  and 
with  prominent,  jointed  appendages  at  end  of  abdomen. 
Stone  flies.    Plecoptera  (p.  50). 

Not  so 9. 

9.  Front  part  of  wings  with  but  few,  if  any,  cross-veins. 
The  wings  fairly  well  covered  with  very  fine  hairs.  Pro- 
thorax  small.    Caddis-flies.    Trichoptera  (p.  57). 

Not  so.    Dobson  Flies,  etc.    Megaloptera  (p.  52). 

10.  Antennae  short  and  inconspicuous.  Wings  with  many 
cross-veins  between  the  long  veins 11. 

Not  so 12. 

11.  Long,  thread-like  appendages  on  end  of  abdomen. 

477 


APPENDIX. 

Hind  wings  much  smaller  than  the  front  wings.  May- 
flies.   Plectoptera  (p.  40). 

Not  so.    Dragon-  and  Damsel-flies.    Odonata  (p.  42). 

12.  Head  prolonged  into  a  beak.  Scorpion-flies.  Mecop- 
TERA  (p.  56). 

Not  so 13. 

13.  Mouth-parts  fitted  for  chewing 14. 

Not  so.    No  abdominal  appendages.    Few  cross-veins. 

Hemiptera.  See  p.  80  for  the  division  into  suborders,  now 
frequently  considered  as  orders, 

14.  Tarsi  five-jointed.    No  abdominal  appendages.  .  ..15. 
Tarsi  with  four  or  fewer  joints.    Wings  with  but  few 

veins 17. 

15.  Prothorax  very  long  and  cylindrical.  Antennae  many- 
jointed.  Wings  with  many  cross-veins.  Raphidioidea. 
This  order,  including  the  Snake-flies,  was  not  in  the  first 
edition  of  the  Field  Book  as  its  members  are  not  often 
noticed,  even  in  the  West,  and  are  not  found  at  all  in  the 
East.  Both  larvae  and  adults  are  carnivorous,  the  former 
usually  living  under  bark.  The  single  family,  Raphidiidae, 
contains  two  genera,  Raphidia  (three  simple  eyes,  "ocelli," 
between  the  compound  eyes)  and  Inocellia  (no  ocelli). 

Not  so i6. 

16.  Wings  usually  with  many  veins  and  cross-veins  (wings 
covered  with  a  fine  powder  if  veins  are  few);  hind  wings 
usually  about  the  same  size  as  the  front  ones.  Ant-lions, 
etc.     Neuroptera  (p.  53). 

Veins  and  cross-veins  not  numerous  and  wings  not 
powdered;  hind  wings  smaller  than  the  front  ones.  Abdo- 
men usually  constricted  at  the  base  and,  in  females,  ending 
in  a  sting  or  sting-like  structure  which  is  usually  with- 
drawn into  the  body.  Wasps,  Bees,  and  Ants.  Hymen- 
OPTERA  (p.  406). 

17.  Prothorax  inconspicuous.  Hind  wings  smaller  than 
the  front  ones;  wings  held  like  the  sloping  sides  of  a  roof 
when  the  insect  is  at  rest.  Book-  and  Bark-lice.  CoRRO- 
DENTIA  (p.  76). 

Not  so.  IsoPTERA  (tarsi  apparently  four-jointed)  and 
the  tropical  Embiidina  (tarsi  three- jointed).  Isoptera  are 
White  Ants;  see  p.  76. 

18.  Mesothoracic   wings   without   apparent  veins;   hind 

478 


APPENDIX. 

wings,  when  present,  folded  crossways  as  well  as  lengtnways. 

Mouth-parts  fitted  for  chewing 19. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 20. 

19.  Movable  forceps  at  end  of  abdomen.  Earwigs. 
Dermaptera  (p.  61). 

Not  so.  Front  wings  ("elytra")  usually  very  hard. 
Beetles.    Coleoptera  (p.  280). 

20.  Mouth-parts  fitted  for  sucking.  Hemiptera  in  a 
broad  sense.    See  p.  80. 

Mouth-parts  fitted  for  chewing.  Meso thoracic  wings 
of  nearly  uniform  texture  throughout  and  usually  with 
many  veins 21. 

21.  Front  wings  about  as  wide  as  the  hind  ones;  the  hind 
ones  not  folded.    White  Ants.    Isoptera  (p.  76). 

Not  so 22. 

22.  Very  small.  Antennae  short  and  few-jointed.  Male 
Strepsiptera  (p.  405). 

Not  so.  Roaches,  Grasshoppers,  etc.  Orthoptera 
(p.  62). 

23.  Legless,  maggot-like  creatures,  without  distinct  body 
parts.  Larvae  of  either  Diptera,  Hymenoptera,  or  (more 
rarely)  Coleoptera;  difficult  to  differentiate  further. 

Sedentary  forms  not  capable  of  much,  if  any,  locomo- 
tion  24. 

Neither  of  the  above 29. 

24.  Small;  scale-like,  or  covered  with  powder  or  cottony 
tufts;  with  a  beak  for  sucking  sap.    Homoptera  (p.  80). 

Not  so.    Pupas 25. 

25.  The  skin  encasing  the  legs,  wings,  etc.,  holding  these 
tightly  against  the  body.  Mouth-parts,  if  visible,  a  pro- 
boscis  26. 

Not  so 27. 

26.  Proboscis,  if  any,  long.  Four  wing-cases,  if  any. 
Sometimes  in  a  silken  cocoon.    LEProoPTERA  (p.  115). 

Not  so.    Diptera  (p.  229). 

27.  Pro  thorax  small,  fixed  into  one  piece  with  the  meso- 
thorax.  Sometimes  enclosed  in  a  cocoon.  Hymenoptera 
(p.  406). 

Not  so 28. 

28.  Wing-cases  with  few  or  no  veins.  Coleoptera  (p. 
280). 

479 


APPENDIX. 

Wing-cases  with  a  number  of  veins.     JNeuroptera 
(P-  53)  S'lid  related  orders. 

29.  Parasites  on  man  and  other  animals 30. 

Not  so 35. 

30.  Four  pairs  of  legs.  Not  insects  at  all  but  mites  or 
ticks.    Acarina  (pp.  32  and  476). 

Not  more  than  three  pairs  of  legs 31. 

31.  Body  flattened  sideways.  Mouth-parts  a  sharp  beak, 
Jumping  species.    Fleas.     Suctoria  (p.  279). 

Body  flattened  horizontally 32. 

32.  Mouth-parts  fitted  for  chewing.  Biting  Bird-lice. 
Mallophaga  (p.  78). 

Mouth-parts  fitted  for  sucking 33. 

33.  Antennae  inserted  in  pits,  not  visible  from  above. 
PuPiPARA  (p.  279). 

Not  so,  although  the  antennae  are  short 34. 

34.  Beak  not  jointed.  Tarsi  hook-like.  Lice.  Siphun- 
CULATA  (p.  78). 

Beak    jointed.      Tarsi   not   hook-like.      Hemiptera 
(p.  80). 

35.  Aquatic;  larvae,  usually  gill-bearing 36. 

Terrestrial  (or  on  the  surface  of  the  water  but  not 

living  below  it);  breathing  through  spiracles 43. 

36.  Mouth-parts  a  strong,  sharp  beak.  Hemiptera 
(p.  80). 

Mouth-parts,  if  any,  fitted  for  chewing 37. 

37.  Living  in  a  case  of  sand,  pebbles,  sticks,  or  leaves. 
Caddis- worms.    Trichoptera  (p.  57). 

Not  so 38. 

38.  Lower  lip  furnished  with  a  pair  of  hooks  and  folded 
so  that  it  can  be  extended  forward.    Odonata  (p.  42). 

Not  so 39. 

39.  No  gills  along  the  sides  of  the  abdomen 40. 

With  lateral  gills  on  the  abdomen 41. 

40.  The  three  divisions  of  the  thorax  loosely  united; 
antennae  and  caudal  (usually  two)  filaments  long  and 
slender.     Plecoptera  (p.  50). 

Not  so.    Jointed  thoracic  legs.    Coleoptera  (p.  280). 
Not  so.     No  jointed  thoracic  legs.     Larvae  and  pupae 
of  Mosquitoes,  etc.     Diptera  (p.  229). 

41.  No  pupal  stage,  hence  wing-pads  frequently  present 

480 


APPENDIX. 

Lateral  gills  on  abdomen.  Usually  three,  sometimes  only 
two,  gills  at  end  of  abdomen.  Tarsi  with  single  claws 
Plectoptera  (p.  40). 

Not  so 42. 

42.  The  larvse  of  Whirligig  Beetles  {Gyrinus,  p.  292)  have 
a  single  pair  of  gills  on  each  of  the  first  eight  abdominal 
segments  and  two  pairs  on  the  ninth ;  the  tenth  is  armed  with 
two  pairs  of  long,  sharp,  curved  hooks.  Except  for  that 
genus,  the  aquatic  larvae  of  Coleoptera  (p.  280)  do  not 
have  "proplegs"  armed  with  hooks  or  claws  on  the  last 
abdominal  segment. 

Among  the  Megaloptera  (p.  52),  Sialis  has  the  last 
abdominal  segment  prolonged  as  a  hairy  or  fringed  tail- 
like process;  Chauliodes  (no  fine  gills  at  the  base  of  each 
lateral  filament)  and  Corydalis  (a  tuft  of  fine  gills  at  the 
base  of  each  lateral  filament)  have  the  last  abdominal  seg- 
ment forked,  each  prong  bearing  a  pair  of  hooks  and  a 
small  lateral  filament. 

43.  Mouth-parts  much  reduced,  drawn  into  the  head  and 
scarcely,  if  at  all,  visible.  Appendages  on  under  side  of 
abdomen.  Delicate,  small  insects.  A  number  of  orders 
which  are  briefly  referred  to  on  p.  39  as  "The  Most  Primi- 
tive Insects." 

Not  so 44. 

44.  Mouth-parts  fitted  for  chewing 45. 

Mouth-parts,  if  any,  fitted  for  sucking 55. 

45.  Larvas  with  fleshy  "legs"  on  abdomen.  Body  cylin- 
drical; thorax  and  abdomen  not  very  distinct.  Butterfly 
and  Moth  caterpillars  (Lepidoptera,  p.  115)  have  not 
more  than  five  pairs  of  abdominal  "legs";  Saw-fl}'-  larvse 
(Hymenoptera,  p.  408)  have  more  than  five  pairs  of  such 
"legs." 

Not  so 46. 

46.  Antennae  long  and  distinct 47. 

Larvae  with  short  antennae 54. 

47.  Strong,  movable  forceps  at  end  of  abdomen;  prothorax 
not  fused  to  mesothorax.    Earwigs.    Dermaptera  (p.  61). 

No  abdominal  forceps 48. 

48.  Abdomen  strongly  constricted  at  the  base;  prothorax 
fused  to  the  mesothorax.  Female  Ants  (p.  415),  Velvet 
Ants  (p.  427),  etc.     Hymenoptera. 

31  481 


APPENDIX. 


Abdomen  not  so;  broadly  joined  to  thorax 49, 

49.  Head  drawn  out  like  a  beak.    Mecoptera  (p.  56). 
Not  so 50. 

50.  About  an  eighth  of  an  inch,  or  less,  in  length;  louse- 
like.    Prothorax  inconspicuous.     Book-    and    Bark-lice. 

CORRODENTIA  (p.  76). 

Not  so -j^ 

51.  Hind  legs  with  enlarged  femora,  fitted  for  jumping. 
Grasshoppers,  etc.     Orthoptera  (p.  62). 

Not  so 52. 

52.  Body  white,  or  nearly  so,  and  somewhat  ant-like. 
Tarsi  apparently  four- jointed ;  no  joint  of  the  front  tarsi 
swollen.    White  Ants.    Isoptera  (p.  76). 

Not  so -,^ 

53.  Either  prothorax  much  longer  than  mesothorax  and 
front  legs  fitted  for  grasping  prey  (Mantidse,  p.  64);  or 
antenna  usually  with  more  than  fifteen  joints  and  ab- 
domen with  appendages  at  the  end,  the  body  being  either 
flattened  (Blattidae,  the  Roaches,  p.  62)  or  stick-like  (Phas- 
midse,  p.  65).     Orthoptera. 

Not  so.  Body  often  hard-shelled.  Beetles.  Cole- 
OPTERA  (p.  280). 

54.  Body  cylindrical,  caterpillar-like.  Mecoptera  (p. 
56). 

Body  more  or  less  flattened.  Usually  larv«  of  Coleop- 
tera  (Mandibles  almost  always  separate  from  maxillse. 
Raphidioidea,  see  couplet  15,  and  Strepsiptera  would 
also  come  here)  but  the  specimens  may  be  larvae  of  Neu- 
ROPTERA  (Mandibles  united  with  the  maxilla  to  form  suck- 
ing jaws). 

55.  Body  densely  clothed  with  hairs  or  scales.  Proboscis, 
if  any,  coiled  under  the  head.  Moths.  LEProoPTERA 
(p.  146). 

Not  so 55. 

56.  Last  tarsi  joint  swollen  and  without  claws.  Very 
small  species.    Thrips.    Thysanoptera  (p.  79). 

Tarsi  not  so ey, 

57*  Prothorax  distinct.  Hemiptera  in  a  broad  sense! 
See  p.  80. 

Prothorax  small  and  not  plainly  visible  from  above. 
Diptera  (p.  229). 

482 


APPENDIX. 


Since  the  first  edition  of  this  book  was 
Cooties  prepared  the  unusual  came  to  many  people 

and  Pediculus  vestimenti  was,  unfortunately, 
not  "rare."  Cootie  is  another  name  for  this  disgusting* 
uncomfortable  and,  by  reason  of  the  disease  it  may  carry, 
dangerous  creature.  Fortunately  the  return  to  sanitary, 
uncrowded  living  conditions,  combined  with  the  delousing 
measures  taken  by  the  army,  will  again  make  it  usually 
rare.  While  it  is  probable  that  capitis  and  vestimenti  are 
distinct  species,  they  are  difficult  to  differentiate. 


Tree-hoppers  or  Insect  Brownies  (Membracidae) 
Page  84  and  Plate  XXIII 

The  Tree-hoppers  or  Insect  Brownies  are  small,  but  they 
are  so  curiously  shaped  that  they  have  attracted  much 
popular  notice.  W.  D.  Funkhouser  has  published  {Memoir 
II,  Cornell  Univ.  Agric.  Exp.  Station)  a  pleasing  paper  on 
the  species  of  central  New  York.  In  order  to  include  a  few 
species  which  may  be  noticed  by  the  users  of  this  book  and 
were  not  covered  by  the  statement  under  4,  p.  81,  it  would 
have  been  better  to  have  said  that  Membracidae  have  an 
enlarged  pronotum  that  usually  extends  over  the  abdomen. 

The  subfamily  Centrotinae  is  distinguished  from  the 
others  by  having  a  distinct  scutellum  not  concealed  by  the 
enlarged  pronotum;  Microcentrus  carycz  on  hickory  is  our 
common  species. 

The  anterior  tibiae  of  the  subfamily  Membracinas  are 
flattened,  somewhat  leaf -like.  In  Campylenchia  the  lateral 
ridges  of  the  anterior  horn  on  the  pronotum  are  close  to  the 
upper  margin;  in  Enchenopa  they  are  about  midway  be- 
tween the  upper  and  lower  margins.  C.  latipes  lives  on 
grasses  and  has  no  yellow  markings  on  its  back.  E.  bino- 
iata  lives  on  trees,  shrubs,  and  vines;  its  back  is  marked 
with  yellow  and  it  covers  its  egg  masses  with  a  frothy 
deposit. 

Most  of  our  Membracids,  including  the  five  species 
shown  on  Plate  XXIII,  belong  to  the  subfamily  Smiliinae, 
in  which  the  anterior  tibiae  are  simple. 

The  genus  Ceresa  can  usually  be  recognized  by  the  horn 

483 


APPENDIX. 

on  each  shoulder,  as  is  shown  in  the  figure  of  bubalus  (Plate 
XXIII).  C.  dicer  OS  has  brown  transverse  bands;  those 
species  which  follow  do  not  have  such  bands.  It  is  found 
chiefly  on  box  elder.  C.  basalts  has  the  under  surface  of  the 
body  strongly  marked  with  black;  those  species  which 
follow  do  not.  It  is  sometimes  common  on  garden  plants. 
C.  constans  and  palmeri  are  small  species  with  the  dorsal 
crest  marked  with  brown  or  reddish.  The  horns  of  con- 
stans are  long,  sharp,  much  recurved,  and  elevated;  it  is 
usually  on  locust.  The  horns  of  palmeri  are  shorter,  little 
elevated,  and  only  slightly  recurved;  it  is  usually  rare  and 
on  hickory.  C.  borealis  is  much  like  bubalus  but  is  smaller, 
darker,  and  has  a  very  hairy  pronotum;  commonest  on 
shrubs  and  low  trees.  C.  bubalus  (p.  84)  has  stout,  nearly 
straight  horns.  C.  taurina  is  about  the  same  size;  horns 
long,  sloping  upward,  and  recurved;  common  on  fruit  trees 
and  bushes. 

Thelia  bimaculata  is  frequently  rather  common  on  locust 
trees,  Robinia  pseudacacia. 

Telamona  ampelopsidis  is  usually  to  be  found  on  Virginia 
creeper.  The  numerous  species  of  this  genus  are  difficult 
to  differentiate  satisfactorily. 

Adults  of  Archasia  belfragei  occur  on  oak  and  locust. 
I  do  not  know  where  its  young  live. 

As  stated  on  p.  84,  ants  attend  some  Membracidee  for 
the  sake  of  "honey-dew."  It  has  been  stated  that  ants 
assist  Entylia  sinuata  to  moult,  but  doubt  has  been  cast 
on  the  accuracy  of  the  observation.  Incidentally,  it  may 
be  that  "honey-dew"  is  not  the  sole  object  of  the  ants' 
visits;  they  seem  to  be  interested  also  in  the  sap  that  flows 
from  the  wounds  made  by  the  Membracids'  beaks. 


484 


APPENDIX. 

Hints  for  Identifying  Caterpillars 
Page  115 

No  more  is  given  here  than  the  heading  promises — hints. 
There  are  several  extensive  papers  on  the  subject,  such  as 
the  one  by  S.  B.  Fracker  {Illinois  Biological  Monographs, 
vol.  II.,  No.  1,1915),  but  they  are  necessarily  both  technical 
and  incomplete.  A  very  good  hint  is  to  make  use  of  the 
plant  index,  page  525 ;  it  was  prepared  for  this  purpose. 
Another  good  hint  is  to  rear  the  caterpillar;  this  means 
work  but  it  will  be  both  interesting  and  instructive.  The 
other  hints  given  here  are  from  notes  kindly  furnished  me 
by  Mr.  F.  E.  Watson,  Assistant  in  charge  of  Lepidoptera 
at  The  American  Museum  of  Natural  History.  They  con- 
cern full-grown  caterpillars  and  here  we  meet  two  diffi- 
culties: nothing  but  experience  will  tell  when  a  caterpillar 
is  full-grown  and  young  caterpillars  of  a  given  species  often 
differ  more  in  general  appearance  from  full-grown  speci- 
mens of  the  same  species  than  do  caterpillars  of  different 
species.  This  can  not  be  helped;  it  is  the  way  they  are 
made. 

A  "caterpillar"  with  only  one  ocellus  on  each  side 
of  its  head  and  no  circles  of  hooklets  on  its  abdominal 
legs  is  not  a  caterpillar  but  the  larva  of  a  Saw-fly  (p. 
408). 

A  caterpillar  more  than  three  inches  long  is  certain  to  be 
one  of  the  Sphingidae,  if  it  has  either  a  "horn"  or  an  eye- 
like spot  on  its  eleventh  body  segment;  otherwise  it  is 
likely  to  be  either  a  Saturnid  or  a  Ceratocampid.  A  very 
hairy  caterpillar,  unless  very  small,  is  almost  certainly  one 
of  the  Arctiidae,  but  see  below.  A  caterpillar  without  legs 
on  the  sixth,  seventh  and  eighth  body  segments  and  that 
moves  by  "looping"  belongs  to  the  Geometridas,  but  note 
that  some  Noctuidae  lack  one  or  more  pairs  of  legs  from  the 
middle  of  their  body  and  also  do  a  sort  of  a  loop.  Cater- 
pillars with  a  sHt  in  the  top  of  the  first  segment  from  which, 
when  disturbed,  they  protrude  a  yellowish  or  reddish  V- 
shaped  scent  organ  are,  in  Eastern  United  States,  those  of 
some  Swallow-tail  butterfly,  Papilio. 

485 


APPENDIX. 

Butterfly  Caterpillars 
Nymphalid^e 

On  Milkweed. — A  pair  of  thread-like  appendages  neal 
each  end  of  the  body;  see  Plate  XXVII.  On  pages  1 16  and 
127  I  used  the  name  Anosia  plexippus  for  this  butterfly, 
calling  attention  to  other  names.  Since  then  the  subject 
has  been  passed  upon  by  authorities  and  it  is  said  that  the 
name  plexippus  really  belongs  to  an  Asiatic  species  that  is 
similar  to  ours  but  has  a  band  of  large  white  spots  across 
each  front  wing.  According  to  the  rules,  our  species  must 
now  be  called  archippus  and  its  genus  is  Danaus,  not 
Danais.    Let  us  hope  that  it  will  remain  so ;  see  page  4. 

Two  southern  species  on  Passion  Flower,  each  about 
1.5  in.  long  (page  117). — The  larva  of  Heliconius  chari- 
thonius  is  dead  white,  with  blackish  spots  and  long  black 
spines.  That  of  Dione  vanillcB  is  brownish-red,  with  longi- 
tudinal dark  brown  bands  and  long  blackish  spines. 

Euptoieta  claudia. — See  p-ge  117  for  foodplants;  Passion 
Flower  and  Sedum  are  favorites.  The  larva,  about  1.4  in. 
long,  has  a  black  head;  body  usually  orange  to  brownish- 
red.  There  are  two  bands  of  white  spots  on  each  side  and 
an  indistinct  one  on  top;  two  long,  finely  spined  horns  or 
tubercle  on  the  first  segment  and  six  rows  of  shorter  ones 
behind  these. 

Argynnis  and  Brenthis  larvae  feed  by  night  and  hide  by 
day  under  pieces  of  bark,  etc.  To  find  them  search  for 
patches  of  Violets  with  irregular  pieces  eaten  out  of  the 
leaves  and  then  look  carefully  among  the  dead  leaves  near 
these  plants.  For  A.  idalia  (about  2  in.  long)  and  A. 
cybele  (about  1.75  in.  long),  see  page  117.  A.  aphrodite 
(page  118):  about  1.5  in.  long;  blackish-brown  with  a 
velvety  black  spot  at  base  of  each  spine;  spines  black, 
sometimes  reddish-yellow  at  base.  A.  atlantis  (page  118): 
about  1.5  in.  long;  dark  velvety  purple  with  grayish  spines. 
The  spines  of  B.  myrina  are  blackish  and  those  of  bellona 
are  dull  grayish-yellow;  see  page  118. 

Phyciodes. — See  descriptions  of  larvag,  page  119.  For 
full-grown  nycteis,  about  i  in.  long,  look  during  early  June 
on  Woodland   Sunflowers   (Helianthus  divaricatus),  espe- 

486 


APPENDIX. 

cially  along  roads.  P.  tharos,  about  .75  in.  long,  on  Asters. 
The  spines  of  the  rare  batesi  are  light  ptirplish-brown; 
similar  to  tharos  and  on  Wavy-leafed  Aster  {Aster  undula- 

ius). 

MelitcBa.—See  pages  119  and  120  for  descriptions  of 
larv«.  M.  phaeton,  about  1.5  in.  long,  feeds  especially  on 
Turtle-head  (Chelone  glabra).  M.  harrisi,  about  1.25  in. 
long,  does  not  have  the  Baltimore's  black  coloring  at  each 
extremity. 

Having  rows  of  barbed  spines 

Grapta,  Junonia  and  Vanessa  j-album  have  a  pair  of 
spines  on  the  head.  Pyrameis  and  our  other  species  of 
Vanessa  do  not  have  spines  on  the  head. 

Grapta  inter rogationis  (page  120).— Head  brown;  body 
chestnut,  flecked  with  yellow  dots  in  more  or  less  longitu- 
dinal Hnes;  spines  yellowish  or  reddish.    Chiefly  on  Ehn. 

Graptacomma  (page  122).— Head  blackish;  body  varying 
from  green  to  brown;  spines  whitish  (a  good  distinguishing 
character,  but  see  f annus).    Chiefly  on  Nettle. 

Grapta  progne  (page  122).— Head  brown;  body  yellowish- 
brown;  spines  blackish.  Chiefly  on  Currant  and  Goose- 
berry. 

Grapta  f annus  (page  122).— Head  black;  body  browmsh- 
yellow,  with  a  large  white  patch  back  of  the  middle;  spines 
white.    Chiefly  on  Black  Birch. 

Junonia  cwnia  (page  126).— Head  dark  brown;  body 
blackish-gray;  spines  metalic   dark  purple.     Chiefly  on 

Gerardia. 

Vanessa  j -album  (page  124).— Body  varying  from  green 
to  dull  red;  spines  mostly  blackish.    On  White  Birch. 

The  following  do  not  have  spines  on  the  head  (see  above). 

Vanessa  antiopa  (page  122  and  plate  XXX).— Head 
black;  body  with  a  row  of  orange-red  spots  on  the  back; 
spines  black.    Chiefly  on  Willow  and  Ehn. 

Vanessa  milberti  (page  124).— Head  black;  body  black, 
lighter  on  the  sides  and  with  broken,  yellow  side-stripes; 
spines  black.    On  Nettles;  usually  not  over  an  inch  long. 

Pyrameis  atalanta  (page  124).— Head  black;  body  usu- 

487 


APPENDIX. 

ally  reddish-gray  with  a  broken,  yellow  stripe  on  each  side; 
spines  reddish.    On  Nettles. 

Pyrameis  hunter  a  (page  124).— Head  black;  body  garnet 
with  yellow  rings,  yellowish  sides  and  two  rows  of  white 
spots  on  the  back;  anterior  spines  blackish,  the  others 
yellowish.    On  Everlastings. 

Pyrameis  cardui  (page  126  and  plate  XXXI).— Head 
black;  body  brownish-gray  with  a  somewhat  broken,  yellow 
stripe  on  each  side  and  sometimes  with  two  faint  yellow 
hnes  down  the  middle  of  the  back;  spines  yellowish. 
Chiefly  on  Burdock. 

Basilarchia. — Full-grown  larvas  of  the  species  mentioned 
on  pages  126  and  127  are  about  1.5  in.  long  and  easily 
recognized  by  the  pair  of  long,  spiny,  warty  tubercles  on 
the  second  segment  and  the  humps  along  the  back,  es- 
pecially prominent  on  the  fifth  segment  (see  Plate  XX VH). 
The  tubercles  on  the  second  segment  of  astyanax  are  not 
clubbed,  the  spiny  warts  being  slender;  those  of  arthemis 
are  conspicuously  clubbed  and  short,  the  spiny  warts  being 
short  and  conical;  those  of  archippus  slightly  clubbed  and 
thickly  covered  with  long,  conical,  spiny  warts.  All  three 
feed  on  Willow  and  Poplar,  but  arthemis  prefers  Birch  and 
astyanax  feeds  on  Wild  Cherry,  both  being  sometimes  found 
on  other  plants. 

Most  of  the  caterpillars  of  the  subfamily  Satyrinee  havo 
the  last  segment  forked  and  the  head  usually  angulate  on 
top  or  even  having  a  pair  of  horns.  See  page  128  and  Plate 
XXXn.  The  following  notes  are  additional  to  the  de- 
scriptions given  there.  All  of  these  species  feed  on  Grasses. 
Dehis  portlandia:  about  1.25  in.  long;  head  yellowish-green, 
the  moderately  high  conical  tubercles  with  red  or  pink 
tips;  body  green,  with  a  dark  green  line  on  top  and  a  faint 
yellow  stripe  on  each  side;  anal  forks  long.  Satyr  odes 
tanthus:  about  1.25  in.  long;  head  green,  with  two  very 
aigh,  red,  conical  tubercles;  body  green,  with  longitudinal 
stripes  of  darker  green;  anal  forks  long.  Neonymphia 
eurytus:  about  .75  in.  long;  head  brownish  and  angulate, 
almost  tuberculate;  body  brownish-green,  with  a  blackish 
line  on  top  and  obscure,  brown,  longitudinal  markings; 
anal  forks  short.    N.  phocion:  about  i  in.  long;  head  pea- 

488 


APPENDIX. 

green,  with  two  small  yellow-brown  tubercles  at  the  sum- 
mits; body  yellowish-green,  with  a  dark  green  line  on  top 
and  five  (two  of  which  are  indistinct)  yellow  lines  on  each 
side.  Satyrus  dope:  about  1.25  in.  long;  head  green  and 
with  no  tubercles  on  the  top;  body  dull,  yellowish-green 
with  two  yellow  stripes  on  each  side;  anal  fork  short  and 
slender. 

Lihythea  bachmani. — Nearly  an  inch  long;  slender;  dark 
green,  with  longitudinal  yellow  lines.  These  caterpillars 
look  like  Pierids  and  sometimes  assume  a  somewhat 
Sphinx-like  pose.  The  second  and  third  segments  are 
swollen,  the  former  bearing  two  black  tubercles  in  a  yellow 
ring.  On  Hackberry  (Celtis)  and  doubtfully  on  Wolf- 
berry  (see  p.  130). 

ERYCINIDiE  AND   LyC^NID^ 

These  larvae  usually  have  the  head  much  smaller  than 
the  body,  often  completely  retractile  into  the  first  segment 
of  the  body.  They  are  shaped  something  like  "sow-bugs" 
or  "wood-lice,"  flat  and  with  an  oval  outline.  Their  legs 
are  so  short  that  they  seem  to  glide,  rather  than  to  walk. 

Erycinidae  (page  130).— The  larva  of  our  only  species, 
Calephelis  borealis,  is  unknown  but,  like  other  members  of 
its  family,  its  head  is  probably  at  least  half  as  broad  as  the 
middle  of  its  body,  which  is  probably  more  cylindrical  than 
among  Lyc^nidas. 

Lycaenid^  (page  131).— Head  less  than  half  as  broad  as 
the  middle  of  the  body.  Many  species  have,  on  the  back 
of  the  posterior  segments,  from  one  to  three,  minute,  ex- 
tensible sacs  from  which  exudes  a  secretion  that  is  attrac- 
tive to  ants.  Therefore,  these  larvae  may  sometimes  be 
found  by  noticing  where  ants  are  congregating  (see  page 

132). 

Thecla  mdinus  larvae,  about  .5  in.  long,  are  dark,  dull, 
velvety  brown.  They  are  commonest  in  August  on  the 
buds,  flowers,  and  pods  of  Hairy  Bush  Clover  {Lespedeza). 
See  page  13 1  for  other  food  plants.  The  larva  of  T.  damon 
is  about  .5  in.  long;  dark  green,  with  three  rows  of  whitish 
dashes  on  each  side.    Mr.  Watson's  directions  for  finding 

489 


APPENDIX. 

larvae  of  T.  titus,  which  get  to  be  about  .75  in.  long  and  are 
bright  green  with  each  extremity  bright  rose  color,  are: 
"  Look  in  June  on  small  plants  of  Wild  Cherry.  First  notice 
if  the  leaves  are  eaten  in  an  irregular  manner;  then  if  there 
is  an  ants'  nest  at  the  base  of  the  main  stem.  The  next 
step  will  be  to  remove  carefully  the  earth  around  this  main 
stem  to  a  depth  of  one  or  two  inches.  The  larva  will  be 
found  resting  on  the  stem  with  ants  in  attendance.  It 
crawls  up  to  the  top  of  the  plant  to  feed  at  night," 

Fefiiseca  tarquinius,  about  .5  in.  long,  grayish  brown  and 
covered  rather  abundantly  with  short  hairs.  See  page  132 
for  food-habits. 

Chrysophanus  hypophlaus  larvas,  on  Field  Sorrel  (Rumex 
acetosella),  and  those  of  C.  thoe,  on  Curly  Dock  (R.  crispus), 
are  bright  green  and  get  to  be  about  .6  in.  long.    See  page 

133. 

Lyccena  comyntas,  about  .4  in.  long,  are  brownish  green; 
chiefly  on  flowers  of  Bush  Clover  and  Tick-trefoil.  See 
page  133.  L.  pseudargiolus  is  a  better  name  than  ladon  for 
our  Common  Blue.  Its  larva,  about  .5  in.  long,  varies 
from  whitish  to  greenish  and  is  sometimes  tinted  with  rose. 

PlERIN^ 

These  caterpillars  are  slender  and  usually  not  much 
longer  than  one  inch. 

On  Cruciferous  Plants  (pages  134  to  137). — Pieris 
rapcB  (Plate  XXXIV)  is  green,  with  three  pale  longitudinal 
stripes,  one  on  the  back  and  one  on  each  side ;  on  Cabbage, 
etc.  P.  protodice  is  green,  striped  with  golden  yellow  and 
dotted  with  small,  black  "warts";  not  common;  chiefly  on 
Lepidium  virginicum,  a  round-seeded  Pepper-grass.  P. 
napi  is  green,  minutely  dotted  with  black  except  for  a 
narrow  streak  down  the  back.  P.  monuste,  about  1.25  in. 
long,  is  yellow,  longitudinally  striped  with  dull  bluish  and 
bright  yellow  bands  and  studded  with  shiny  black  warts, 
the  larger  ones  being  spiny.  Euchlo'e  genutia  is  dark  green, 
striped  with  dark  blue,  orange,  yellow,  and  white,  and 
dotted  all  over  with  minute  black  warts;  June  and  late 
May,  especially  on  flowers  and  pods  of  the  Rock-cres«. 
Arabis  lyrata. 

490 


APPENDIX. 

On  Leguminous  Plants  (pages  137  and  138). — Colias 
pMlodice  is  grass-green,  with  a  pale  rose-colored  stripe  on 
each  side;  chiefly  on  Clover.  Eurytheme  is  like  philodice 
but  with  two  rose-colored  bands  on  each  side;  on  Clovers, 
especial!}^  Alfalfa.  Meganostoma  ccBSonia  is  yellowish- 
green,  generally  with  narrow  transverse  bands  of  yellow  or 
black  or  both,  and  dotted  with  small  black  warts ;  on  false 
Indigo  (Amorpha  fruticosa).  Catopsila  eubule,  about  1.75 
in.  long,  is  bluish-green,  with  a  yellow  stripe  on  each  side, 
blue  transverse  bands,  and  dotted  with  minute  black  warts; 
on  Cassia.  Possibly  all  of  our  species  of  Terias  feed  on  Cas- 
sia. T.  lisa  is  grass-green,  with  a  white  line  on  each  side; 
nicippe  is  green,  with  a  broad  yellow  band,  edged  slightly 
with  blue,  on  each  side. 

Nathalis  iole,  about  .5  in.  long,  is  green,  with  a  purple 
stripe  on  the  back  and  a  double  purple  and  yellow  stripe 
on  each  side.    On  Fetid  Marigold  (Bosbera  papposa). 

Papilionin^ 

See  above  (page  485). 

Front  Segments  Much  Larger  Than  Those  Behind; 
Eye-like  Spots  on  the  Third  Segment. — P.  troilus  (page 
140)  has  yellowish  patches  in  line  with  these  eye-spots  but 
on  the  fourth  segment ;  it  is  common  on  Sassafras  and  Spice- 
bush.  P.  glaucus  (page  140)  does  not  have  such  yellow 
patches  and  is  usually  foimd  on  either  Wild  Cherry  or 
TuHp-tree.  P.  palamedes  is  much  like  troilus  but  the  spot 
on  the  third  segment  is  more  distinctly  an  "eye  spot"  and 
the  pinkish  spot  behind  this  (on  the  fourth  segment)  has 
no  black  spot  at  its  hind  edge;  on  Magnolia  and  Lauraceae. 

Front  Segments  Much  Larger  Than  Those  Behind,  but 
Without  Eye-spots. — P.  cresphontes  (page  138  and  plate 
I)  lives  on  Citrus  Trees.  P.  marcellus  (page  142)  is  green, 
with  narrow  yellow  and  black  cross-bands,  and  lives  on 
Papaw. 

Front  Segments  Not  Much  Larger  Than  Those  Behind. — 
P.  philenor  (page  141)  is  blackish-brown,  with  fleshy  fila- 
ments and  orange  tubercles ;  rare  in  the  North  but  common 
southward  on  Aristolochia.  P.  polyxenes  (page  141)  is 
green,  with  black  cross-bands;  on  Carrot,  Parsnip,  and 
allied  plants. 

491 


APPENDIX. 

Hesperiid^ 

"The  larvae  are  smooth  and  usually  have  a  head,  some- 
what rough  and  hairy,  which  looks  too  big  and  seems  to  be 
supported  by  a  too  slender  neck.  The  appearance  of  many 
suggests  moth  larvse,  and  nearly  all  of  the  species  show  a 
further  resemblance  to  moths  in  that  they  spin  a  sort  of  a 
cocoon  within  which  they  pupate"  (page  142;  see  Plate 
XXXVII).  The  first  body  segment  of  the  caterpillars  has 
a  chitinized  band  back  of  the  neck ;  this  band  is  called  the 
thoracic  shield. 

The  Hesperiinae  (page  143)  make  horizontal  nests  on  a 
variety  of  plants  (but  not  grasses),  the  young  by  folding 
over  a  leaf  and  the  more  nearly  full-grown  by  fastening 
together  several  leaves.  The  Pamphilinae  (page  144) 
make  vertical,  tubular  nests  by  spining  together  blades 
of  grass. 

The  following  notes  concern  the  Hesperiinag;  the  life 
histories  of  the  PamphiHnae  are  but  poorly  known. 

Epargyreus  tityrus  (page  143). — Head  reddish-brown, 
with  two  bright  orange-red  spots;  body  yellowish-green 
but  first  segment  red  and  thoracic  shield  brown.  Chiefly 
on  Locust. 

Eudamus  proteus  (page  144). — Like  tityrus  but  with 
orange  longitudinal  bands.  Especially  on  Tick-trefoil 
(Meibomia) . 

Achalarus  (misspelled  Achlarus  on  page  144)  lycidas, 
Thorybes  bathyllus,  and  pylades. — Head  black;  body  brown. 
On  Tick-trefoil  and  Bush  Clover. 

Thanaos  brizo  (two  orange-red  spots  on  the  head),  also 
(six  such  spots)  juvenalis  and  hor alius. — Head  fawn-colored 
body  whitish-green.  Chiefly  on  Oak.  Adults  of  horatius 
are  distinguished  from  those  oi  juvenalis  (plate  XXXVII) 
by  their  not  having  two  whitish  spots  on  the  under  side  of 
each  hind  wing  just  back  of  the  front  edge. 

Thanaos  lu^ilius  (page  144). — Head  black;  body  green. 
On  Columbine. 

Pholisora  catullus  (page  144). — Head  black;  body  green. 
On  Chenopodium  and  Amaranthus. 

Hesperia  tessellata  (page  144). — Head  black;  body  green. 
On  Sida. 

492 


APPENDIX. 


SPHINGIDiE 


Hairless  caterpillars  from  two  to  five  inches  long  having 
either  a  horn  or  an  eye-like  tubercle  on  the  eleventh  seg- 
ment are  sure  to  belong  to  this  family  (p.  146),  if  they  as- 
sume a  Sphinx-like  attitude  when  at  rest.  The  species 
which  have  an  eye-like  tubercle  instead  of  a  horn  are  Sphe- 
codina  ahbotti,  Pholus  pandorus  and  achemon;  see  below. 
The  horn  of  Pachysphinx  modesta  is  not  well  developed.  A 
few  species  belonging  to  other  families  have  small  larvae 
with  such  a  tubercle  but  they  do  not  assume  the  Sphinx- 
like pose. 

Ceratomia  amyntor  on  Elm  and  White  Birch  may  be 
recognized  by  the  pair  of  tubercles  on  each  of  the  third  and 
fourth  segments. 

Hemaris  thysbe. — About  1.75  in.  long.  Head  pale  green; 
body  pale  green,  whitish  on  top,  with  two  longitudinal 
white  stripes  close  together  on  top  and  two  others  which  are 
close  together  on  the  second  segment  and  meet  at  the  base 
of  the  bluish  horn.    Common  on  Viburnum.     See  page  147. 

Amphioti  nessus. — About  2.75  in.  long.  Chocolate- 
brown,  flecked  with  black  markings  and  brownish  dots; 
brownish  stripes  on  the  sides;  horn  reddish.  On  Virginia 
Creeper  and  Grape.    See  page  147. 

Sphecodina  abbotii. — About  2.5  in.  long.  Sometimes 
nearly  green  owing  to  large  green  patches  on  the  brown 
ground-color;  with  narrow  dark  lines  and  a  shiny  eye-like 
tubercle  instead  of  a  horn.  Common  on  Virginia  Creeper 
and  Grape.    See  page  148. 

Deilephila  lineata. — Up  to  3  in.  long.  Yellowish  green 
or  black,  with  two  rows  of  eye-like  spots  along  the  back. 
See  page  148. 

Pholus. — P.  pandorus  is  about  3.5  in.  long;  robust; 
green  or  reddish  brown,  with  six  oval,  cream-colored  spots 
on  the  sides;  black,  polished,  eye-like  tubercle  instead  of  a 
horn  when  full-grown,  but  the  young  have  a  recurved  horn; 
see  Plate  XXXVHI.  P.  achemon  is  similar  but  the  light 
spots  are  elongate  and  have  an  irregular  outline.  Both  are 
on  Virginia  Creeper  and  Grape.    See  page  149. 

Ampelophagus. — A.  myron  is  about  2.25  in.  long.  Body 
green  or  brown,  with  two  white  longitudinal  lines  on  top 

493 


APPENDIX. 

from  head  to  horn;  also  a  row  of  yellow  patches  on  top; 
pale  obHque  stripes  on  the  sides;  horn  red  to  bluish; 
on  Virginia  Creeper  and  Grape  (see  page  149  and  Plate 
XXXVIII).  A.  pholus  is  about  2  in.  long;  similar  t-o 
myron  but  lacks  the  row  of  yellow  patches  on  top;  he  n 
white,  with  a  bluish  base  and  green  tip ;  on  Viburnum.  A . 
versicolor  is  up  to  3  in.  long;  similar  to  pholus  but  the  ar- 
rangement of  the  stripes  is  somewhat  different  and  the 
horn  is  black  with  red  sides;  chiefly  on  Buttonball  but  not 
common. 

Phlegethontius  or  Protoparce. — Green  or  brown  cater- 
pillars; 3  to  4  in.  long;  on  Potato,  Tomato,  Tobacco,  and 
alhed  plants.  P.  celeus  has  seven  obhque  yellowish- white 
side-stripes  that  curve  backward  around  and  below  th* 
spiracles.  In  P.  Carolina  these  stripes  do  not  curve  back 
ward.    See  page  150  and  Plate  XXXIX. 

Sphinx  jamaicensis  geminatus. — About  2.25  in.  long. 
Head  triangular;  green,  with  a  yellow  side-stripe.  Body 
green,  with  seven  obhque,  yellowish  bands  on  each  side  and^ 
a  short  white  longitudinal  stripe  on  each  side  on  the  ante 
rior  segments;  horn  usually  blue  but  sometimes  greenish  of 
even  pink.  Body  and  head  granular.  Chiefly  on  Willo\^ 
and  Poplar.    See  page  152. 

Calasymholus. — The  following  are  about  2.5  in.  long ;  head 
triangular  and  partly  green;  body  green,  with  seven  oblique 
side-stripes.  C.  exccecatus  has  a  yellow  side-stripe  on  the 
head;  two  yellow  longitudinal  stripes  on  the  back;  horn 
green;  head  and  body  granular;  on  a  great  variety  of  plants. 
C.  my  ops  also  has  a  yellow  stripe  on  the  head ;  usually  four 
rows  of  bright  red  spots  on  the  body;  horn  green;  head  and 
body  not  granular;  on  Cherry.  C.  astylus  has  yellowish- 
green  head  and  body ;  head  with  pinkish  sides  and  the  seven 
yellow  oblique  bands  on  each  side  of  the  body  are  marked 
with  pinkish  above;  two  short  pinkish  stripes  on  the  back 
of  the  anterior  segments;  horn  yellow,  with  a  pink  base; 
chiefly  on  Huckleberry  and  rather  rare. 

Pachysphinx  modesta  is  about  3  in.  long.  Head  and  body 
light  green,  with  white  granulations;  body  with  two  yellow 
longitudinal  Hnes  above  and  seven  oblique  ones  on  each 
side; horn  rudimentary.  On  Willow  and  Poplar.  Seepage 
150. 

494 


APPENDIX. 

Cressonia  juglandis. — About  2.5  in.  long.  Green  or 
brown,  with  white  granulations;  head  triangular,  pointed 
at  the  top;  body  with  seven  pale,  oblique  stripes  on  each 
side;  horn  brownish.  Chiefly  on  Hickory,  Walnut,  and 
Butternut. 

Hyloicus. — H.  eremitus  is  up  to  3  in.  long;  dark  reddish- 
brown,  with  seven  pale,  oblique  stripes  on  each  side;  on  the 
second  segment  is  a  tubercle-like  projection,  back  of  which 
is  an  oval  black  spot;  on  Pepper,  Wild  Bergamot,  Salvia, 
and  various  species  of  the  mint  family.  H.  drupiferarum 
has  seven  white  side-stripes  bordered  with  purple;  chiefly 
on  Wild  Cherry  but  also  on  Plum.  H.  kalmice  has  seven 
oblique  white  side-stripes  bordered  with  blue-black  and 
yellow.  H.  chersis  has  a  whitish-green  body,  with  the 
oblique  stripe  pale  yellow.  The  last  three  are  up  to  3.5  in. 
long  and  rather  robust;  the  last  two  feed  chiefly  on  Lilac, 
Privet,  and  Ash.    See  also  page  153. 

ChlcBnogrammajasminearum. — Up  to  3.5  in.  long.  Rather 
robust;  green,  with  six  oblique  stripes  white  and  the  sev- 
enth red.    On  Ash,  probably  also  Lilac  and  Privet. 

SATURNIIDiE  AND  CeRATOCAMPID^ 

These  two  families  are  often  grouped  together  in  our 
minds  because  species  of  each  are  large  and  showy  moths. 
Large,  robust,  hairless  (except  B.  imperialis)  caterpillars 
with  prominent  paired  horns,  or  tubercles  are  fairly  certain 
to  belong  to  one  of  them. 

Philosamia  cynthia. — About  2.75  in.  long.  Pale  green, 
covered  with  a  whitish  powder;  six  rows  of  bluish-green 
tubercles.  Chiefly  on  Ailanthus.  See  page  153  and  Plate 
XL. 

Samia  cercropia. — About  3.5  in.  long.  Bright  green; 
second  and  third  segments  each  have  a  pair  of  large,  coral- 
red  tubercles;  a  pair  of  yellow  tubercles  on  the  fourth  seg- 
ment and  a  single  unpaired  one  on  the  eleventh  segment. 
On  almost  any  kind  of  tree  and  woody  shrub.  See  page 
154  and  Plate  XLL 

Callosamia  promethea. — About  2.25  in.  long.  Pale  green; 
the  second  and  third  segments  each  have  a  pair  of  coral-red 
tubercles  and  there  is  an  unpaired  yellow  one  on  the  eleventh 

495 


APPENDIX. 

segment.  On  a  great  variety  of  trees  and  woody  shrubs. 
See  page  156  and  Plate  XLII.  The  rather  rare  C.  angulU 
fera  is  similar  to  promethea  but  has  yellow  side-stripes;  on 
Tulip-tree. 

Telea  polyphemus. — About  2.75  in.-  long.  Bright  apple- 
green;  six  rows  of  scarlet  tubercles  which  are  silvered 
on  the  sides.  On  a  great  variety  of  trees  and  shrubs, 
Oak  and  Maple  being  favorites.  See  page  158  and  Plate 
XLIV. 

Actias  luna. — Very  similar  to  T.  polyphemus  but  the 
tubercles  are  not  silvered.  Chiefly  on  Hickory  and  Sweet- 
gum.    See  page  158  and  Plate  XLIII. 

Automeris  to. — This  spiny  caterpillar  is  easily  recognized 
by  reference  to  Plate  XLV.  A  favorite  food  is  Wild  Cherry. 
See  page  160. 

Anisota. — About  2  in.  long;  three  rows  of  short  black 
spines  on  each  side  and  a  pair  of  long  ones  on  the  second 
segment;  chiefly  on  Oak.  A.  stigma  has  a  yellow  head; 
body  light  brown,  with  white  granules  and  three  dark 
longitudinal  stripes.  A .  virginiensis  has  a  brown  head  with 
a  greenish  or  yellowish  tinge;  body  dark  greenish,  with 
four  purplish  stripes.  A .  senatoria  has  a  black  head ;  body 
dull  black,  with  eight  orange  stripes.  See  pages  161  and 
162  and  Plate  XLVIII. 

Dryocampa  rubicunda. — Plate  XLV  is  sufficient  de- 
scription. On  Maple  and  rarely  on  Oak.  As  noted  on  page 
162,  it  is  really  an  Anisota. 

atheroma  regalis. — About  5  in.  long.  Green ;  second  and 
third  segments  each  have  a  pair  of  very  long  horns  and  a 
pair  of  shorter  ones,  orange  with  black  tips;  a  short  horn 
on  segment  eleven.  On  Sweet-gum  and  Walnut,  less  com- 
monly on  other  trees.  See  page  162  and  Plate  XLVI. 
atheroma  sepulchralis  is  smaller  than  regalis  and  is  brown- 
ish with  yellowish  horns;  on  Pine. 

Basilona  imperialis. — About  4  in.  long.  Color  varying 
from  green  through  brownish  orange  to  black;  second  and 
third  segments  each  have  a  pair  of  short  yellow  horns  and 
another  pair  of  still  shorter  ones;  a  short  one  on  the  eleventh 
segment;  body  covered  with  scattered,  long  hair.  On  a 
great  variety  of  trees,  Sassafras,  Sweet-gum,  and  White 
Pine  being  favorites.    See  page  164  and  Plate  XLVII. 

496 


APPENDIX. 

Woolly  Bears 

These  are,  typically,  members  of  the  family  Arctiidae. 
They  are  only  moderately  long  and  usually  have  dense 
hair.  There  are  a  large  number  of  species,  but  the  com- 
moner ones  are  described  on  pages  i66  to  170  and  figured  on 
Plates  XLIX  and  L.  See  also  Acronycta  americana,  page 
174  and  Plate  LI;  Malacosoma,  page  191  and  Plate  LVII; 
and  Hemerocampa,  page  186  and  Plate  LV. 


Unfortunately  this  pest  has  invaded  New 
Gypsy  Moth  Jersey.  Apparently  it  was  a  fresh  introduc- 
tion on  nursery  stock  imported  by  the  Duke 
estate  near  Somerville.  Owing  to  insufficient  inspection 
of  importations  at  the  docks,  it  was  allowed  to  come  in  and, 
owing  to  insufficient  entomological  service  in  New  Jersey, 
it  became  established  and  spread  before  it  was  discovered. 
Both  of  these  unfortunate  oversights  were  due  to  insuffi- 
cient appropriations  for  important  work.  Now  many  times 
the  cost  of  prevention  must  be  spent  for  a  cure. 

A  small  Pyralid  moth,  Pyrausta  nubilalis, 
European  -j^^^  found  its  way  to  this  country  from  Eu- 

Paee  200  rope,  probably  in  a  shipment  of  broom  com 

from  Austria-Hungary  about  19 10,  and 
some  of  our  best  economic  entomologists  fear  that  it  may 
become  a  very  serious  pest.  It  was  discovered  in  19 17 
infesting  com  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston.  The  mature  larva 
is  about  an  inch  long,  flesh-colored,  often  somewhat  smoky 
or  reddish  dorsally;  head  dark  brown;  each  abdominal 
segment  with  a  cross-row  of  four  dark  spots,  in  each  of 
which  is  a  short,  stout  spine,  and  behind  each  such  row  are 
two  smaller  spots.  The  insect  has  only  one  brood  a  year 
in  some  places;  in  others,  adults  not  only  appear  in  May 
from  larvae  that  have  overwintered  in  old  stalks  and  pu- 
pated in  the  Spring  but  there  is  another  generation  in 
midsummer.  The  larvag  bore  almost  anywhere  in  the  com 
plant:  in  the  tassel-stalk,  causing  it  to  break;  in  the  main 
stem,  lowering  the  vitality  of  the  plant;  and  in  the  ear, 
sjpoiling  it  for  food .    Unfortunately ,  because  this  fact  makes 

497 


APPENDIX. 

the  insect  more  difficult  to  control,  it  also  breeds  in  a  great 
variety  of  weeds. 

Through  an  inexcusable  laxness  in  lan- 
SimuliidsB  guage  I  said  that  the  larvae  of  these  interest- 

ing and  often  troublesome  insects  cling 
by  means  of  sucker-like  hind  legs.  I  should  have  said 
"each  larva  clings  by  suckers  located  at  the  posterior  end 
of  its  body."  Johannsen's  description  (N.  Y.  State  Museum 
Bulletin  68)  is:  "At  the  caudal  end,  with  its  plane  nearly 
at  right  angles  to  the  longitudinal  axis  of  the  body,  are 
concentric  circles  of  tiny  hooks,  the  center  of  the  circle 
being  hollowed  out,  sucker-like.  The  rows  of  hooks,  though 
arranged  in  concentric  circles,  are  also  arranged  radially, 
so  that  about  lOO  radii  may  be  counted,  each  radius  with 
from  eight  to  20  hooks  (varying  with  the  species  and,  per- 
haps, also  with  the  age)."  These  suckers  are  not  true  legs 
and  neither  are  the  "front  pair,  which  they  use  when 
crawling,"  true  legs;  what  has  apparently  happened  is 
that  fleshy  appendages,  analogous  to  the  proplegs  of  cater- 
pillars, have  been  modified  to  form  these  structures. 
Adults  of  Simulium  have  been  accused  of  carrying  pellagra 
to  man  and  anthrax  to  cattle. 


Key  to  Some  Families  of  Beetles 

Page  280 

In  the  general  remarks  about  Coleoptera,  I  said :  "  Aftet 
some  familiarity  with  the  various  groups  has  been  gained 
by  matching  specimens  with  the  pictures,  the  student  will 
be  able  to  assign  most  beetles  to  their  proper  family  on 
'general  appearance'."  This  is,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  the 
way  we  usually  work  but  there  are  even  common  species 
that  are  troublesome  because  they  are  not  entirely  typical 
of  the  family  to  which  they  belong.  Mr.  A.  J.  Mutchler, 
Assistant  in  charge  of  Coleoptera  at  The  American  Mu-. 
seumof  Natural  History,  has  kindly  drawn  up  the  following 
key  (see  page  27)  in  order  to  help  with  these  species  and 
also  with  families  that  do  not  have  very  striking  character- 
istics.   Only  those  who  have  attempted  such  a  task  can 

498 


APPENDIX. 

realize  how  difficult  it  is  to  make  a  key  simple  enough  to  be 
used  by  an  amateur  and  also  scientifically  accurate.  I 
believe  that  Mr.  Mutchler  has  succeeded  wonderfully 
well. 

The  student  should  be  careful  when  counting  the  tarsal 
joints.  The  claws  are  not  joints  but  the  segment  that  bears 
them  is  one,  the  last  one.  Where  a  joint  is  said  to  be  small 
or  inconspicuous,  it  is  often  very  much  so.  The  few  neces- 
sary technical  terms  are  explained  either  in  the  key  or  else- 
where in  the  book;  see  the  index.  Where  more  than  one 
character  is  given,  your  specimen  must  have  each  of  them, 
unless  there  is  a  clear  qualifying  statement  such  as  "usu- 
ally." If  your  specimen  does  not  have  that  combination 
of  characters,  go  on  to  the  next  step. 

1.  All  of  the  tarsi  three-jointed;  second  joint  dilated  and 
pad-like  beneath.  Antennae  eleven-jointed,  terminating  in 
a  more  or  less  distinct  three-jointed  club.  Last  joint  of  the 
maxillary  palpi  broad,  hatchet-shaped.  Head  nearly  con- 
cealed by  the  thorax.  Lady  Beetles.  CocciNELLiDiE. 
See  page  297  and  Coccinella,  Megilla,  Adalia,  Hippodamia, 
Anatis,  and  Epilachna,  Plate  LXXV. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 2. 

2.  Antennae  arising  from  the  front  of  the  head,  above  the 
base  of  the  mandibles;  eleven-jointed,  thread-like,  with  at 
least  the  six  outer  joints  pubescent.  Head  usually  verti- 
cal, and  usually  wider  than  the  thorax.  Eyes  usually 
prominent  (bulging).  Legs  slender.  All  tarsi  distinctly 
five-jointed.  They  are  usually  of  a  metallic  green  or 
bronze  color  or,  like  lepida  and  dorsalis  that  live  on  white 
sand,  grayish  white.  Tiger  Beetles.  Cicindelid^.  See 
page  281  and  Cicindella,  Plates  LXXH  and  LXXIII. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 3. 

3.  Antennae  arising  from  the  sides  of  the  head,  between 
the  base  of  the  mandibles  and  the  eyes;  eleven- jointed, 
usually  distinctly  thread-like  (however,  see  Scarites,  page 
286),  with  at  least  the  six  outer  joints  pubescent.  Eyes 
usually  moderate  in  size  (however,  see  Elaphrus,  page  285). 
Head  usually  horizontal  or  slightly  inclined,  and  usually 
narrower  than  the  thorax.  All  of  the  tarsi  distinctly  five- 
jointed.     The  species  are  usually  black,  blue,  green,  or 

499 


APPENDIX. 

brown,  and  a  few  are  spotted.  CARABiDiE.  See  page  282 
and  Plates  LXXII  and  LXXIII. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 4. 

4.  First  three  and  claw  joints  of  all  the  tarsi  plainly 
visible;  the  third  one  is  usually  deeply  notched;  hidden  in 
this  notch  is  a  small  fourth  joint,  which  is  immovably 
united  with  the  fifth  or  claw  joint,  making  the  tarsi  appear 
four-jointed.  Sole  of  tarsi  usually  densely  pubescent. 
Antennas  usually  either  filiform  (thread-like)  or  serrate 
(saw-toothed),  rarely  thickened  towards  the  tip.  (Where 
posterior  tarsi  are  five-jointed  and  the  third  joint  is  not 
lobed,  try  16.  See  also  6,  7,  and  8  for  species  having  the 
first  or  fourth  joint  of  the  tarsi  very  small) 5. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 6. 

5.  Front  of  head  prolonged  into  a  broad  quadrate  beak. 
Antennae  short,  serrate,  inserted  in  front  of  the  eyes. 
Margin  of  the  eyes  more  or  less  indented  in  front.  Elytra 
short,  leaving  the  last  dorsal  abdominal  segment  exposed. 
Front  and  middle  legs  of  moderate  length,  their  femora  not 
dilated;  hind  femora  dilated  and  often  toothed  beneath. 
First  tarsal  joint  elongate;  this  and  the  two  following  joints 
clothed  beneath  with  spongy  pubescence;  third  joint  deeply 
bilobed;  claws  usually  broadly  toothed  at  the  base.  All 
but  one  species  are  less  than  .25  inch  in  length.  Bruchid^. 
See  page  379.  Certain  Rhynchophora,  such  as  Anthribidae 
(see  19)  are  difficult  to  separate  from  other  beetles  (see 
pages  394  and  395)  and  the  student  may  have  them,  also, 
at  this  point. 

Antennae  usually  long  (rarely  very  short) ;  their  points  of 
insertion  usually  much  embraced  by  the  eyes  and  usually 
upon  frontal  prominences.  Eyes  usually  transverse,  with 
deeply  indented  margin  or  sometimes  entirely  divided. 
(Species  with  eyes  slightly  or  not  indented  may  be  hard  to 
separate  from  the  next  division  and,  in  that  case,  other 
characters  should  be  carefully  compared.)  Elytra  usually 
covering  the  abdomen,  but  in  a  few  species  very  short 
(those  species  which  are  long  and  narrow  and  have  short 
elytra  may  superficially  be  mistaken  for  Staphylinidae). 
Tibiae  with  more  or  less  distinct  spurs.  Upper  surface 
usually  hairy,  but  sometimes  glabrous  and  shining. 
Cerambycid^.    See  page  337. 

500 


APPENDIX. 

Antennae  either  moderately  long  or  short  and  either 
thread-like,  saw-toothed,  or  clubbed;  their  point  of  inser- 
tion rarely,  or  not  at  all,  surrounded  by  the  eyes  and  not 
upon  frontal  prominences.  Margins  of  the  eyes  not,  or 
scarcely,  indented.  Elytra  usually  covering  the  abdomen, 
sometimes  leaving  the  last  dorsal  segment  exposed  and 
rarely  not  nearly  covering  the  enlarged  abdomen  of  gravid 
females.  Legs  usually  short;  hind  femora  frequently  en- 
larged; tibiag  never  serrate  and  usually  without  spurs. 
Upper  surface  usually  glabrous,  often  shining.  Chry- 
soMELiDiE.    See  page  362. 

6.  Tarsi  very  variable;  usually  five-jointed,  with  the  first 
joint  usually  small  and  somewhat  inconspicuous;  some- 
times with  fourth  joint  small;  sometimes  with  the  middle 
and  hind  tarsi  four-jointed  in  the  males.  Antennas  either 
thread-like  or  terminated  by  a  slight  club  (usually  the 
outer  joints  are  but  slightly  thickened) ;  first  joint  usually 
elongated,  sometimes  to  a  great  degree.  (Try  also  7  and 
8  which  have  the  first  joint  of  tarsi  small  or,  if  maxillary 
palpi  are  longer  than  the  antennae,  try  15  for  some  species 
with  first  tarsal  joint  small  and  inconspicuous.)  Elytra 
usually  flat,  strongly  margined,  and  usually  covering  the 
abdomen.  Legs  rather  short.  Femora  large.  Tibiae 
slender.  The  species  are  generally  flat  and  elongated, 
sometimes  excessively  so,  and  usually  of  sombre  tint. 
CucujiD^.    See  page  299. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 7. 

7.  Antennae  with  eleven  or  rarely  ten  joints;  rather  short; 
usually  serrate,  the  outer  joints  larger  and  forming  an  open 
or  less  often  a  compact  club.  First  and  fourth  tarsal  joints 
often  very  small;  all  but  the  fifth  furnished  beneath  with 
membranous  appendages.  The  species  are  usually  pubes- 
cent and  more  or  less  cylindrical  in  form.  Clerid^.  See 
page  318. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 8. 

8.  Antennae  eleven-jointed,  more  or  less  thickened 
throughout,  the  outer  joints  being  widest  and  forming  a 
club  of  varied  form.  Elytra  never  shortened,  always  cover- 
ing the  abdomen.  Tarsi  five-jointed,  slender;  first  joint 
very  short;  second  slightly  longer;  last  joint  very  long; 
claws  simple.    Between  the  claws  there  is  a  short  pad  ter- 

501 


APPENDIX. 

minated  with  two  hairs.  Form  oblong  or  oval,  usuall;^ 
flattened.  They  are  usually  black,  reddish-black  or  steel 
blue  in  color,  and  usually  glabrous.  TEMNOCHiLiDiE. 
See  page  305. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 9. 

9.  Elytra  short,  usually  leaving  a  greater  part  of  the  ab- 
domen exposed  above.  Abdomen  flexible,  capable  of  being 
turned  upward,  and  with  eight,  or  rarely  only  seven,  seg- 
ments visible  from  below.  Mandibles  somewhat  long, 
sharp,  and  sickle-shaped.  Tarsi  usually  with  five,  or  rarely 
with  only  four  or  three,  joints.  Staphylinid^.  See  page 
297. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 10. 

10.  Prothorax  loosely  joined  behind  (the  basal  part  fitting 
loosely  to  the  elytra);  hind  angles  prolonged  backwards 
into  more  or  less  elongated  points.  None  of  the  five  ventral 
segments  of  the  abdomen  more  closely  united  than  the 
others.  Middle  of  the  prosternum  with  a  spine-like  pro- 
longation which  projects  into,  but  does  not  fill,  the  cavity 
at  the  middle  of  the  mesosternum.  Antennae  more  or  less 
saw- toothed,  rarely  fan-like  or  comb- like.  Tarsal  claws 
either  simple,  toothed,  or  comb-like.  Elaterid^.  See 
page  306. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters T.i, 

11.  Pro  thorax  fitting  closely  to  the  elytra;  hind  angles  of 
prothorax  usually  not,  or  at  most  slightly,  prolonged. 
Middle  of  the  prosternum  prolonged  and  fitting  rather 
tightly  into  the  mesosternum.  First  and  second  ventral 
segments  of  the  abdomen  more  closely  united  than  the 
others.  The  junction  of  these  segments  may  be  (i)  very 
indistinct,  making  the  first  and  second  segment  appear  as 
one  large  segment;  (2)  with  a  more  or  less  distinct  line 
indicating  the  point  of  contact;  or  (3)  the  junction  may  be 
distinct  but  not  as  markedly  so  as  that  between  the  other 
segments.  Elytra  nearly  or  entirely  covering  the  abdomen. 
Antennae  saw-toothed.  All  of  the  tarsi  distinctly  five- 
jointed.  The  surface  of  these  beetles  is  usually  bronzed  or 
metallic  and  their  bodies  are  hard  and  not  flexible.  Many 
of  them  resemble  the  Elateridae  in  general  form,  but  the 
thorax  and  abdomen  are  more  firmly  imited.  Bupres- 
TJDJE.    See  page  310. 

502 


APPENDIX. 


Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 12. 

12.  Body  and  elytra  softer  than  is  usual  for  beetles. 
Seven  or  eight  segments  of  the  abdomen  showing  on  ventral 
side.  Often  with  light-giving  apparatus,  which  is  visible  on 
the  under  side  of  one  or  more  segments  of  the  abdomen. 
Antennae  usually  eleven-jointed;  usually  saw-toothed, 
rarely  comb-like,  or  with  long  flat  processes  folding  like  a 
fan.  Elytra  thin  and  flexible;  sometimes  short;  never 
embracing  the  sides  of  the  abdomci.  Legs  long,  slender, 
and  often  compressed.  Tarsi  without  appendages  be- 
neath; the  fourth  joint  more  or  less  bilobed.  For  the  most 
part,  these  are  plain  black,  or  brownish,  or  brownish- 
yellow  species;  some  are  black  and  yellow.  Lampyrid^. 
See  page  314. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 13. 

13.  Antennae  with  seven  to  eleven,  usually  ten,  joints  and 
usually  with  three,  sometimes  as  many  as  seven,  of  the 
external  joints  prolonged  on  one  side  so  as  to  form  an  en- 
largement consisting  of  leaf-like  parts.  These  parts  may 
be  brought  together  so  that  they  seem  to  form  a  compact 
club.  Basal  joint  of  the  antennae  elongate  and  thicker  than 
the  third  joint.  Elytra  usually  short,  leaving  the  last  dor- 
sal abdominal  segment  exposed.  Front  tibiae  with  finger- 
like  processes.  Tarsi  of  middle  and  hind  legs  usually  long 
and  always  five-jointed;  those  on  the  anterior  legs  some- 
times wanting.    Scarab^eid^.    See  pages  326  to  335. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 14. 

14.  Hind  coxae  grooved  for  the  reception  of  the  femora  m 
repose.  Antennae  with  eleven  (sometimes  nine  or  ten) 
joints;  the  last  three  joints  forming  a  large  club.  Elytra 
usually  covering  the  abdomen.  Legs  short.  Tibiae  with 
spurs.  Tarsi  five-jointed;  claws  usually  simple.  These 
are  usually  oval,  plump,  dark  beetles  less  than  .4  in.  long. 
They  often  have  the  surface  partly  covered  with  pale  gray 
or  brownish  sp(  ts  composed  of  minute  hairs  which  are 
easily  rubbed  off.    Dermestid^.    See  page  302. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 15 

15.  Hind  coxae  more  or  less  conical  and  prominent.  Eyes 
sometimes  absent.  Antennae  with  eleven  (rarely  nine  or 
ten)  joints;  gradually  or  suddenly  thickened,  usually 
forming  a  club  at  the  apex,  but  sometimes  nearly  filiform 

503 


APPENDIX. 

Abdomen  with  five  or  six  visible  ventral  segments.  Tibae 
sometimes  fitted  with  spines  for  digging,  sometimes  slender 
and  with  large  terminal  spurs.  Tarsi  usually  five- jointed. 
The  elytra  are  sometimes  a  little  shorter  than  the  abdomen. 
SiLPHiDyE.    See  page  295. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 16. 

16.  First  joint  of  antennae  long,  sometimes  longer  than  all 
the  others  united,  and  more  or  less  bent  or  curved;  the 
second  joint  being  attached  a  little  to  one  side  of  the  tip  of 
the  first,  the  outer  joints  are  naturally  on  an  angle  with  the 
first,  making  the  antennae  elbowed  ("geniciilate").  Outer 
antennal  joints  thicker,  forming  either  a  loose  comb-like 
or  a  compact  club.  (If  the  head  is  more  or  less  prolonged 
into  a  beak,  see  also  19) 17. 

Antennae  not  elbowed ;  either  thread-like,  or  short  and 
thick,  or  with  the  outer  joints  forming  a  club 18. 

17.  First  antennal  joint  long;  the  eighth  and  following 
joints  forming  a  compact  club.  Elytra  truncate,  leaving 
che  two  end  segments  of  the  abdomen  uncovered.  All  of 
the  tarsi  five-jointed  except  in  Acritus  and  Mletes,  where 
the  hind  ones  are  four- jointed.  Compact  beetles,  with  a 
very  hard  surface.    Histered^,    See  page  304. 

Outer  antennal  joints  broader  on  one  side,  so  as  to 
form  a  peculiar  pectinate  (with  branches  like  coarse  teeth 
of  a  comb)  club,  the  parts  of  which  are  movable  but  not 
capable  of  being  folded  together.  Elytra  covering  the 
abdomen.  Front  tibiae  more  or  less  toothed  and  fitted  for 
digging;  middle  and  hind  tibiae  with  lateral  teeth  and 
terminal  spurs.  Tarsi  slender,  five-jointed;  claws  simple, 
with  a  short  bristle-bearing  pad  between  them.  LucAN- 
ID^.    See  page  324. 

18.  Maxillary  palpi  usually  longer  than  the  antermae,  and 
by  the  inexperienced  student  often  mistaken  for  the  moder- 
ately short  antennae,  which  are  usually  concealed  beneath 
the  head.  Antennae  six-  to  nine-iointed,  the  outer  joints 
forming  an  abrupt  club ;  all  of  the  joints,  excepting  the  basal 
ones,  are  pubescent.  Metasternum  usually  large,  often 
keeled,  and  often  produced  into  a  long  spine  behind.  Tarsi 
-on  all  legs  five-jointed,  the  first  joint  often  very  small  and 
inconspicuous.  The  middle  and  hind  tarsi  are  sometimes 
more  or  less  compressed  and  fringed  for  swimming.    (There 

504 


APPENDIX. 

are  some  species  that  have  the  thorax  narro«ver  than  the 
elytra;  of  elongate  form;  usually  narrowed  behind,  and 
often  roughly  sculptured.  They  are  usually  gray  or  brown 
in  color,  more  or  less  tinged  with  bronze  or  silver,  and  the 
tarsi  are  not  compressed.  For  this  reason  they  do  not  re- 
semble other  members  of  the  family.)  Hydrophilid^. 
See  page  293. 

Antennae  eleven- join  ted,  usually  thread-like  and  not 
pubescent.  Hind  legs  longest  and  strongly  adapted  for 
swimming,  being  more  or  less  flattened  and  fringed  with 
long  hairs  (these  hairs  may  be  flattened  against  the  legs 
and  hard  to  see).  Tarsi  five-jointed;  the  fourth  joint  of 
the  anterior  and  middle  tarsi  obsolete  in  some  of  the 
smaller  species.     Dytiscid^.    See  page  289. 

Antennae  short,  thick,  and  stumpy;  the  third  joint 
enlarged.  Eyes  divided  by  the  sides  of  the  head  into  an 
upper  and  underneath  portion,  giving  the  insects  the  ap- 
pearance of  having  two  eyes  for  looking  up  into  the  air 
and  two  for  gazing  down  into  the  water.  Middle  and  hind 
legs  forming  broad  short  paddles;  front  ones  rather  long 
and  slender.    Gyrinid^.     See  page  292. 

Not  having  these  combinations  of  characters 19. 

19.  Front  and  middle  tarsi  five-jointed,  hind  tarsi  four- 
jointed;  the  joints  are  usually  slender  and  bare  or  at  most 
sparsely  haired  or  spinose.  Heteromera.  See  page  380 
for  a  key  to  families  which  is  probably  sufficiently  plain  to 
separate  any  of  the  families  that  are  likely  to  come  to  the 
reader's  attention.  In  separating  this  section  from  the 
others,  the  tarsal  characteristics  wall  hold  good  for  all  cf  the 
families  contained  in  it,  but  there  are  a  number  of  genera 
in  some  of  the  other  families  which  have  the  hind  tarsi 
four-jointed;  they  are:  Sphindid^;  some  small  Silphid^; 
some  male  Cucujid^;  some  male  Cryptophagid^  (see 
page  300) ;  and  the  genus  Rhizophagus  of  the  NixrouLiD^ 
(see  page  304).  There  are  also  four  families  belonging  to 
the  true  Heteromera  which  are  not  mentioned  in  the  key  on 
pages  380  and  381;  they  are:  ^GiALiTiDiE,  represented  by 
only  two  species  and  occurring  from  Alaska  and  California; 
OTHINID.E,  represented  by  four  species,  one  from  the  East 
and  three  from  the  West;  Monommid^e,  represented  by  four 
species,  one  of  which  was  described  from  Virginia,  the 

505 


APPENDIX. 

others  are  Western  and  Southwestern;  and  Cephaloid^, 
represented  by  three  species,  all  from  the  Western  States. 
Not  having  the  tarsal  characters  of  the  Heteromera. 
Head  more  or  less  prolonged  to  form  a  beak,  which  is 
usually  longer  than  broad.  RHY^xoPHORA  (for  key,  see 
page  393;  also  Plate  LXXXVI).  See  also  Bruchidae,  5  and 
page  379.  Other  characteristics  of  this  suborder  are  as 
follows.  Tarsi  usually  four-jointed  (five-jointed  in  Scoly- 
tidae,  pages  393  and  404;  then  the  tibiae  are  saw- toothed 
and  the  antermae  elbowed).  Antennae  usually  terminating 
in  a  more  or  less  compact  club  and  usually  elbowed,  but 
sometimes  straight.  Those  with  straight  anteimae  may 
have  either  (i)  a  long  slender  beak,  or  (2)  the  beak  may  be 
narrowed  about  the  middle,  or  (3)  thicker  at  the  end  be- 
yond the  insertion  of  the  antermae,  or  (4)  broad  and  fiat 
(Anthribidae) ;  in  the  last  case  there  is  on  the  top  of  the 
prothorax  a  basal  or  ante-basal  ridge,  which  is  bent  for- 
ward at  right  angles  or  nearly  so,  forming  a  more  or  less 
shortened  side  margin.  The  last  dorsal  segment  is  exposed 
and  with  more  c  r  less  of  a  notch  in  the  middle  into  which 
the  inner  edges  cf  the  elytra  fit  when  closed. 


There  are  a  number  of  families  of  mostly  small,  incon- 
spicuous, or  rare  species  which  have  not  been  treated  in  the 
foregoing  key.  The  following  notes,  additional  to  those 
given  in  the  body  of  this  book,  may  be  of  use  to  the  reader 
in  case  he  should,  by  chance,  come  across  such  specimens, 

Amphizoid^. — There  are  only  two  known  North  Amer- 
ican species,  ranging  from  Alaska  to  Southern  California. 
They  are  nearly  equal  in  size  (about  .65  in.  in  length)  and 
are  related  to  the  Carabidae  but  can  be  separated  from  them 
in  having  glabrous  antennae.  They  have  been  said  to  be 
related  to  the  Dytiscidae  but  differ  in  that  the  legs  are 
similar  to  those  of  the  Carabidae.  They  are  found  clinging 
to  logs  or  stones  under  the  surface  of  streams. 

Haliplid^, — Species  .16  in.  or  less  in  length.  The  hind 
coxae  are  much  expanded,  covering  part  of  the  hind  femora 
and  three  to  six  abdominal  segments.  See  pages  288  and 
289. 

LEPTiNiDiE. — Only  two  species  known  from  North 
America.    They  are  not  over  .1  in.  in  length  and  belong  in 

506 


APPENDIX. 

the  section  with  club-like  antennae.  The  palpi  are  distant 
at  the  base  and  eyes  wanting.  They  live  with  rodents  and 
Insectivora. 

ScYDMiENiDiE. — See  page  296. 

Brathinid.e. — See  page  296. 

PsELAPHiD^. — See  page  296. 

Trichopterygid^. — This  family  includes  the  smallest 
known  beetles,  the  largest  scarcely  exceeding  a  pin  head  in 
size.  They  belong  in  the  series  with  three-jointed  tarsi. 
The  wings  (not  elytra)  are  fringed  with  long  hairs  and  there 
are  whorls  of  long  hairs  on  the  middle  antennal  joints. 
They  live  in  rotten  wood  and  dung,  on  fungus  covered  logs 
and  in  ants'  nests. 

PLATYPSYLLiDiE. — The  Only  species  known  resembles  a 
roach  in  miniature,  and  is  parasitic  on  the  beaver. 

Hydroscaphid^. — The  only  species  listed  from  North 
America  is  found  in  California. 

SpHiERiiD^. — See  page  294,  under  Hydrophihdas. 

ScAPHiDiiD^. — The  members  of  this  family  are  less  than 
.2  in.  in  length.  They  are  thickest  and  arched  in  the  middle 
and  narrowed  toward  each  end.  The  tarsi  are  five-jointed. 
The  antennse  are  long,  slender,  and  sometimes  hair-like. 
The  elytra  are  shorter  than  the  abdomen.    See  page  297. 

Phalacrid^. — See  page  297. 

CoRYLOPHiD^. — Oval;  rounded;  about  .08  in.  or  less  in 
length.  The  tarsi  are  four-jointed  but  the  third  joint  is 
concealed  by  the  notched  second  joint  and  appears  three- 
jointed.  Like  the  Trichopterygidae,  the  wings  are  fringed 
with  hairs  but  these  hairs  are  shorter  than  in  that  family. 
See  page  297. 

Endomychid.^. — These  look  somewhat  like  Coccinel- 
lidae  and  may  be  put  in  the  section  with  the  three-jointed 
tarsi,  as  the  third  joint  is  very  small  and  concealed  in  the 
base  of  the  terminal  joint.  None  are  over. 7  in.  in  length 
and  they  differ  from  the  Coccinellidae  in  usually  being  less 
convex,  more  elongate,  and  in  having  much  longer  an- 
tennas. They  occur  on  woody  fungi,  in  decaying  wood,  and 
beneath  logs  and  bark.    See  page  299. 

EROTYLiDiE. — Allied  to  the  Endomychidae  but  differ 
mainly  by  having  the  tarsi  five-jointed,  with  the  fourth 
joint  usually  very  small.    They  occur  mostly  upon  fleshy 

507 


APPENDIX. 

fungi  growing  upon  logs,  although  the  members  of  one 
genus  (Languria)  are  found  upon  plants  and  are  more  or 
less  injurious.     See  page  299. 

CoL\T)iiD^. — Small  elongate  species  and  so  closely 
allied  to  the  Cucujidae  that  they  have  been  included  as  one 
of  its  subfamilies,  but  the  tarsi  are  four-jointed  and  the 
first  four  ventral  segments  are  firmly  united.  They  are  in 
part  carnivorous,  as  the  larvae  of  certain  genera  are  known 
to  feed  on  small  wood-boring  insects.    See  page  299. 

Rhyssodid^. — See  page  299. 

Cryptophagid^. — Oval  or  oblong  oval;  never  very  de- 
pressed.   See  page  300. 

Mycetophagid^. — See  page  300. 

NiTiDULiDiE. — See  page  304. 

Lathridiid^.— These  belong  in  the  section  with  the 
three-jointed  tarsi.    See  page  305. 

MoNOTOMK)^. — Probably  none  over  .15  in.  in  length. 
They  are  much  depressed  and  look  like  some  of  the  smaller 
Cucujid^,  but  they  have  three-jointed  tarsi,  and  the  an- 
tennas are  ten-jointed.  They  live  beneath  the  bark  of  trees 
and  in  the  nests  of  ants. 

Derodontid^.— Only  four  North  American  species. 
About  .16  inch  or  less  in  length.  The  tarsi  are  five- jointed 
and  the  antennae  have  the  last  three  joints  somewhat,  but 
not  suddenly,  enlarged.  The  color  is  brownish  yellow. 
The  only  species  which  is  likely  to  come  to  notice  is  to  be 
found  on  fungi  and  beneath  the  bark  of  fungus-covered  logs. 

Byrrhid^. — The  largest  is  probably  less  than  .5  in.  in 
length.  They  are  oval  and  convex.  The  tarsi  are  five- 
jointed.  The  legs  are  retractile  and  the  hind  cox£e  grooved 
to  receive  the  femora  in  repose.  Found  most  commonly  in 
sandy  places,  where  they  are  usually  upon  the  ground, 
either  beneath  cover  or  burrowing  about  the  roots  of  the 
tufts  of  coarse  grasses  which  grow  in  such  locaHties. 

Georyssid^.— Represented  in  the  United  States  by 
only  two  species,  each  less  than  .4  in.  in  length,  which  live 
on  the  margin  of  streams  and'cover  themselves  with  a  coat- 
ing of  mud  or  fine  sand,  so  that  they  can  be  detected  only 
when  they  move.  They  are  minute,  rounded,  and  convex. 
The  tarsi  are  four-jointed.  The  antennas  short  and  nine- 
jointed,  the  last  three  joints  forming  an  oval  club. 

508 


APPENDIX. 

PARNiDiE. — The  tarsi  are  five-jointed;  the  fifth,  or  last, 
joint  is  longer  than  the  other  four  united  and  is  armed  with 
long  simple  claws.    See  page  305. 

Heterocerid^, — The  largest  is  not  over  .28  in.  in  length. 
The  antennae  are  short,  the  seven  outer  joints  broad. 
Tibiag  dilated  and  armed  with  rows  of  spines  and  fitted  for 
digging.  The  labrum  and  mandibles  project  forward. 
Tarsi  four-jointed.  They  are  semi-aquatic  and  live  in 
galleries  which  they  excavate  in  the  sand  or  mud,  along  the 
borders  of  streams  and  lakes.  When  disturbed,  they  run 
from  these  galleries  and  take  flight. 

DASCYLLiDiE. — None  more  than  .26  in.  in  length.  The 
antennae  are  more  or  less  saw-toothed.  The  tarsal  claws 
are  either  simple  or  comb-like.  They  are  oval,  somewhat 
convex,  and  of  rather  soft  texture  and  dull  color.  They 
usually  occur  on  plants  near  water,  although  some  are 
found  on  dead  timber,  others  in  rotten  wood,  and  a  few  in 
Ainning  water. 

Rhipicerid^. — The  largest  of  the  three  species  likely 
to  occur  in  the  Eastern  United  States  is  less  than  i  in.  in 
length.  The  antennae  are  saw-toothed  and  in  most  males 
this  is  so  pronounced  as  to  be  fan-like.  The  tarsal  claws 
have  a  large  hairy  pad  between  them.  They  are  usually 
found  on  or  near  dead  trees. 
Throsced^. — See  page  30Q. 

MALACHiiDiE. — Although  similar  to  the  Lampyridae, 
these  do  not  have  the  fourth  tarsal  joint  bilobed  and  the 
antennse  of  some  male  species  are  curiously  knotted.  See 
page  318. 

Ptinid^. — See  page  320. 
Bostrychid^. — See  page  322. 
CuPESiD^. — See  page  323. 

Lymexylonid^. — The  three  known  North  American 
species  vary  from  more  than  .4  in.  to  as  small  as  .1  in.  in 
length.  The  antennae  are  short  and  saw-toothed;  the 
elytra  nearly  or  quite  as  long  as  the  abdomen.  They  are 
elongate,  narrow,  and  are  probably  all  wood-borers,  the 
best  known  European  species  being  called  the  ship-timber 
beetle.    See  page  324. 

Ciom.^. — These  differ  from  most  of  the  other  Serri- 
comia  in  having  four-jointed  tarsi.    See  page  324. 

509 


APPENDIX. 


Sphindid/E. — The  representatives  of  this  family  in  the 
United  States  consist  of  only  three  species,  the  largest 
being  about  .i  in.  in  length.  They  belong  to  the  Serri- 
comia  but  are  "heteromerus"  (the  front  and  middle  tarsi 
being  five- jointed  and  hind  tarsi  four- jointed).  They  occur 
in  dry  fungi  on  logs  and  the  trunks  of  trees. 

SPONDYLEDiE. — See  page  336. 

It  is  pleasant  to  record  that  injurious 
Calosoma  insects  are  not  the  only  introduced  species 

to  spread  beyond  their  point  of  entry. 
Calosoma  sycophanta,  introduced  near  Boston  for  control- 
ling the  Gypsy  Moth,  is  now  to  be  found  in  the  vicinity  of 
New  York  City.  It  is  about  the  size  of  scrutator;  the  pro- 
thorax  and  underside  are  dark  blue ;  and  there  is  no  reddish 
margin  on  the  elytra. 

Another  introduced  pest  that  has  become 
, '®®°  important  since  the  first  edition  of  this  book 

gggjjg  is    the    Green    Japanese    Beetle,    PopilUa 

japonica.  It  is  a  Scarabaeid,  of  the  subfamily 
Rutelinae  (page  332),  about  half  an  inch  long,  and  may  be 
recognized  by  its  being  almost  entirely  green,  except  for 
the  brown  elytra,  which  do  not  reach  to  the  tip  of  the  ab- 
domen. When  Messrs.  Weiss  and  Dickerson,  inspectors 
for  the  New  Jersey  State  Department  of  Agriculture,  dis- 
covered it  in  1916  in  Burlington  County,  N.  J.,  they  could 
find  only  about  a  dozen  beetles;  a  recent  bulletin  states 
that  in  1919  it  had  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  20,000 
beetles  could  "be  collected  by  hand  by  one  person  in  a 
single  day."  The  first  beetles  probably  came  in  with  earth 
surrounding  the  roots  of  some  ornamental  plant  such  as 
iris  or  azalea.  The  adults  skeletonize  the  leaves  of  trees 
and  hardy  shrubs,  practically  defoliating  them. 

There  is  always  great  danger  in  making 
Antennae  of  unqualified  statements  cover  a  wide  field 
noidea  ^  entomology.    It  is  for  that  reason  I  have 

put  in  "usually"  and  its  various  synonyms 
so  often.  There  is  a  case  in  point  on  page  407,  where  I  said 
that  members  of  the  superfamily  Ichneumonoidea  have 

510 


APPENDIX. 

more  than  sixteen  joints  in  each  antenna.  The  very  first 
genus,  Evania,  mentioned  under  this  divisicn  on  page  411 
does  not  and  there  are  others. 

As  was  pointed  out  on  page  430,  Polistes 
C|aper-making  ^^q^qs  no  envelope  for  its  nest  but  Vespa 
does.  Some  authors  consider  that  the  in- 
troduced crahro  (Plate  XC),  having  the  ocelli  much  below 
the  level  of  the  upper  edges  of  the  compound  eyes  and 
nearer  to  each  other  and  to  the  compound  eyes  than  they 
are  to  the  back  of  the  head,  is  our  only  true  Vespa.  The 
others  are  called  Vespula.  Vespula  is  then  divided  into 
subgenera :  Vespula,  proper,  has  the  compound  eyes  nearly 
touching  the  base  of  the  mandibles  and  includes  consobrina 
and  communis  (the  numbers  2  and  3  were  unfortunately 
transposed  in  the  first  edition  of  this  book) ;  Dolichovespula 
has  the  eyes  remote  from  the  mandibles  and  includes 
maculata,  arctica,  and  diaholica.  The  markings  of  maculata 
are  whitish  (often  not  as  yellow  as  shown  on  plate  XC)  and 
usually  there  are  none  on  the  first  three  segments ;  the  under 
side  of  each  antenna  is  reddish  yellow.  The  so-called 
germanica  and  vulgaris,  referred  to  on  page  430,  are  se- 
parated from  each  other  and  from  communis  as  follows :  V. 
germanica  has  the  black  spot  on  the  first  dorsal  abdominal 
segment  lozenge-shaped;  this  spot  is  triangtilar  or  trans- 
verse in  vulgaris  (base  of  the  first  dorsal  abdominal  seg- 
ment black  and  a  black  point  in  the  middle  of  the  yellow 
posterior  margin)  and  communis  (first  dorsal  abdominal  seg- 
ment yellow,  with  a  transverse  black  spot).  VespuH  (in 
the  limited  sense)  vidus  was  not  mentioned  on  page  430. 
It  has  yellow  markings  like  communis  but  the  second  ab- 
dominal segment  is  black,  except  for  a  naro  ,v  even  band 
along  the  posterior  margin,  while  in  other  species  of  the 
subgenus  Vespula  the  yellow  covers  much  of  the  second 
segment  and  the  front  edge  of  the  yellow  band  is  irregular. 
A  southern  Vespula  that  comes  as  far  north  as  New  Jersey 
is  Carolina.  It  has  a  pair  of  longitudinal,  pale  lines  extend- 
ing to  the  posterior  margin  of  the  mesonotum.  The 
worker  and  male  have  yellow  markings,  including  bands  on 
the  abdomen;  the  light  markings,  including  most  of  the 
abdomen,  of  the  queen  are  somewhat  reddish  or  orange. 

511 


APPENDIX. 

Key  to  Bees 
Page  439 

In  order  to  make  certain  that  the  specimen  is  a  bee,  run 
over  the  classification  on  pages  407  and  408.  The  wing 
veins  and  cells  referred  to  here  are  those  of  the  front  wings; 
see  p.  406  for  their  names  and  the  figures  on  page  513  for 
rather  typical  examples 

1.  Three  closed  submarginal  cells .2. 

Two  closed  submarginal  cells 22. 

Less  than  two  closed  submarginal  cells.    Phileremulus 

(small,  western  Nomadidae,  p.  442)  and  Stingless  Honey- 
bees (p.  453)  of  the  tropics. 

2.  Marginal  cell  very  long,  almost  reaching  the  apex  of 
the  wing  (Fig.  i);  no  apical  spurs  on  the  hind  tibiae;  eyes 
with  hair  visible  imder  a  lens.  The  ordinary  Hive  or 
Honey  Bee.    Apid^e  (p.  453). 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 3. 

3.  First  recurrent  vein  meeting  the  first  transverse  cubital. 
Southern  bees.  Caupolicana  {Megacilissa  of  some  authors) 
in  the  CoUetidas. 

First  recurrent  vein  received  by  the  second  submarginal 
cell  near  or  beyond  its  middle,  rarely  imiting  with  the 
second  transverse  cubital  vein.    (One  of  the  species  in  which 


Explanation  of  Figures  on  Page  513 

These  figures  are  merely  more  or  less  typical  examples;  in  some 
genera  there  are  considerable  variations  from  species  to  species  (and 
sometimes  even  within  a  species)  from  the  condition  illustrated. 

I.  A  wing  of  A ^j5  Tnei/i/era,  the  ordinary  Hive-bee.  2.  A  dia- 
gram of  a  side  view  of  the  head  of  a  bee  in  which  the  posterior  angle 
of  the  mandible  is  not  farther  forward  (toward  the  left)  than  the 
posterior  margin  of  the  eye.  3.  A  similar  diagram  showing  this 
angle  farther  forward  than  the  posterior  margin  of  the  eye.  4.  A 
wing  of  a  Bumble-bee,  Bombus.  5.  A  wing  of  a  Carpenter  Bee, 
Xylocopa.  6.  A  wing  of  Anthophora.  7.  A  wing  of  Melissodes. 
iJ.  A  wing  of  Exomalopsis.  9-  A  diagram  of  tarsal  claws  with  a 
pad,  called  pulvillus  or  empodium,  between  them.  10.  A  diagram 
of  tarsal  claws  without  such  a  pad.  11.  A  wing  oi  Epeolus.  12. 
A  wing  of  Notnada.  13.  A  wing  of  Ceratina.  14.  A  wing  of 
Halicius.  15.  A  wing  of  Andrena.  16.  A  wing  of  Colletes.  17. 
A  wing  of  Prosopis.  18.  A  wing  of  a  Leaf-cutting  Bee,  Megachilg, 
19.     A  wing  of  a  Perdita. 


513 


APPENDIX. 

these  veins  meet  is  ProtoxcEa  gloriosa  of  our  Southwest. 
This  bee  is  nearly  three-fourths  of  an  inch  long;  has  reddish 
yellow  pubescence;  its  marginal  cell  is  very  narrow;  and 
the  submarginal  cells  increase  in  size  from  the  first  to  the 
third.    See  also  Xylocopa,  Fig.  5) 4. 

4.  Submarginal  cells  all  of  about  the  same  size  but  the 
second  somewhat  the  longest  and  strongly  produced  to- 
ward the  body;  the  first  usually  divided  by  a  delicate, 
rather  indistinct  oblique  nervure.  Stigma  not  well  de- 
veloped. First  discoidal  cell  not  much  longer  than  the 
marginal  cell,  which  is  pointed  at  the  tip  and  extends  far 
beyond  the  apex  of  the  third  submarginal  cell.  Fig.  4. 
Rather  large  and  densely  hairy  bees.    Bombid^  (p.  448). 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 5» 

5.  Third  submarginal  cell  almost  as  long  as  the  first  and 
second  combined ;  the  second  wedge  shaped,  narrowed  and 
pointed  toward  the  body;  the  third  scarcely  narrowed  to- 
ward the  marginal  cell,  which  is  long  and  narrow.  First 
recurrent  vein  uniting  with  the  second  traverse  cubital. 
Stigma  not  well  developed.  First  discoidal  cell  not  much 
longer  than  the  marginal  cell.  Fig.  5.  Large  bees.  Xylo- 
copa, XylocopiD/E  (p.  447). 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 6. 

6.  Posterior  angle  of  mandible  farther  forward  toward  the 
face  than  the  posterior  line  of  the  eye  (see  Fig.  3).  Body 
hairy.  First  portion  of  subdiscoidal  vein  distinctly  longer 
than  the  third  portion  of  the  discoidal  vein.  Marginal  cell 
not  especially  long  or  narrow,  rarely  longer  than  the  first 
two  submarginal  cells  united.  Females  and  most  males 
with  a  flat  triangular  area  on  the  apical  dorsal  abdominal 
legment.  Most  Anthophoridae  in  a  broad  sense.  See  p. 
444,  where,  however,  some  of  the  following  are  not  men- 
tioned   7. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 13, 

|.  First  discoidal  cell  much  longer  than  the  marginal  cell. 
5ee  Fig.  6 •. 8. 

First  discoidal  cell  scarcely,  if  any,  longer  than  the 

marginal.    See  Figs.  7  and  8 g. 

8.  Third  submarginal  cell  almost  quadrate,  not,  or  scarce- 
ly, narrower  above  than  beneath.  Marginal  cell  obtuse  at 
the  tip,  which  extends  beyond  the  apex  ot  the  third  sub- 

514 


APPENDIX. 

marginal  cell  onl}'-  about  as  far  as  the  marginal  cell  is  wide. 
Anthophora  (Fig.  6  and  p.  444;  mandibles  \dt\i  not  more 
than  two  teeth)  and  Clisodon.  C.  terminalis  nests  in  dead 
wood;  its  female  has  yello\vish  red  hair  on  the  apex  of  the 
abdomen. 

Third  submarginal  cell  narrower  above  than  beneath. 
Tip  of  marginal  cell  far  beyond  the  apex  of  the  third  sub- 
marginal  cell  and  touching  the  costal  margin  of  the  wing. 
First  recurrent  vein  reaching  the  apical  corner  of  the  second 
submarginal  cell.  Largely  western.  Emphoropsis.  A 
common  eastern  species  is  E,  floridana,  a  moderate-sized 
black  bee  with  grayish  hair  on  the  thorax  and  first  ab- 
dominal segment. 

9.  Stigma  well  developed,  lanceolate.  Second  recurrent 
nervure  not  strongly  sinuose.  First  submarginal  cell  about 
as  long  as  the  third.    Fig.  8.    Southern  bees.    Exomalopsis. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 10. 

10.  Second  submarginal  cell  rather  longer  than  either  the 
first  or  third,  not  narrowed  above.  Marginal  cell  obtuse 
at  tip  and  not  extending  more  than  its  width  beyond  the 
apex  of  the  third  submarginal  cell,  which  is  very  much 
narrowed  towards  the  marginal.  Hind  legs  of  female  with 
long,  dense  pubescence.    Southern  bees.     Centris. 

Second  submarginal  cell  smaller  than  either  the  first 
or  third.    See  Fig.  7 ii» 

11.  Vertex  raised  in  the  middle  at  the  ocelli;  male  anten- 
nas usually  conspicuously  longer  than  the  female's;  male 
clypeus  with  more  or  less  yellowish  markings.  Tetralonia, 
Xenoglossa,  Cemolobus,  and  Melissodes  (see  Fig.  7  and 
page  445). 

Not  so 12. 

12.  Pulvilli  (pads  between  the  tarsal  claws;  Fig.  9)  pres- 
ent. Melitoma  (proboscis,  when  folded,  extending  be- 
neath the  thorax  as  far  as  the  base  of  the  abdomen;  page 
444)  and  Diadasia  (proboscis  not  so  elongate;  western 
bees). 

Pulvilli  absent.     (See  Fig.  10.)    Emphor  (page  444). 

13.  First  discoidal  cell  much  longer  than  the  marginal 
cell;  first  portion  of  the  subdiscoidal  vein  shorter  than  the 
third  portion  of  the  discoidal  vein.  (See  Figs.  11  and  12.) 
Posterior  angle  of   mandible   farther   forward   than    the 

515 


APPENDIX. 

posterior  line  of  the  eye  (see  Fig.  3).  Females  and  most 
males  with  a  flat  triangular  area  on  the  apical  dorsal  ab- 
dominal segment.  Females  without  pollen  collecting  ap- 
paratus. Body  usually  with  but  few,  if  any,  long  hairs; 
often  black  or  red  with  white  or  yellow  markings  or  else 
nearly  all  red.  Some  Nomadidae  (p.  442) ;  for  three  genera 
not  mentioned  there  see 14, 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters.     First 
discoidal  cell  not,  or  scarcely,  longer  than  the  marginal 

cell 15. 

14.  Usually  yellow  and  black  or  red  and  black  bees;  the 
light  markings  on  the  abdomen  not  due  to  hairs.  Nomada 
(Figs.  12  and  page  442). 

Abdomen  with  hairs  and  the  light  markings,  if  any, 
due  to  them.  Bomhomelecta  (scutellum  with  two  spines; 
abdomen  without  pale  spots)  and  Pseudomelecta  (scutel- 
lum sometimes  with  merely  two  lobes  or  tubercles;  usually 
spots  of  white  pubescence  on  abdomen)  are  western  bees 
with  the  marginal  cell  scarcely  or  not  half  the  length  0/ 
the  first  discoidal  cell  and  not,  or  scarcely,  extending  be- 
yond the  apex  of  the  third  submarginal  cell.  See  Fig.  11 
and  page  442  for  Epeolus  and  Triepeolus.  Viereckella  has 
five-jointed  maxillary  palpi;  our  common  species,  pilosula, 
looks  like  a  black  Nomada  with  hair  on  its  abdomen. 

15.  Head,  thorax,  and  sometimes  the  abdomen  with 
metallic  bronze,  blue,  or  green i6. 

Head  and  thorax  not  metallic,  usually  black,  rarely 
with  some  red;  in  a  few  cases  the  abdomen  with  opalescent, 
metallic  bands .  18. 

16.  Small  bees.  First  recurrent  vein  joining  the  second 
submarginal  cell  near  its  apex;  first  submarginal  cell  about 
as  long  as  the  third,  longer  than  the  second.  Fig.  13.  Apex 
of  last  dorsal  abdominal  segment  of  female  with  a  spine. 
Ceratinid^  (page  447) ;  Ceratina  our  only  genus. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters.  .17  (See 
also  18). 

17.  Basal  vein  forming,  more  or  less  perfectly,  an  arc  of  a 
circle  (Fig.  14) ;  face  without  pubescent  depressions.  Some 
Halictid£e  (page  440). 

Basal  vein  not  greatly  arched  (Some  Panurgid^,  page 
442,  recognizable  by  truncate  marginal  cell,  would  come 

516 


APPENDIX. 

here  by  reason  of  exceptionally  having  three  submarginal 
cells.  In  that  case  go  to  32) ;  face  of  female,  at  least,  with 
pubescent  depressions.  See  Fig.  15.  Some  Andrenidae 
(page  441). 

18.  Stigma  well  developed,  lanceolate 19. 

Stigma  not  well  developed,  short  and  often  nearly 

obsolete Try  4  again. 

19.  Second  recurrent  vein  strongly  sinuose,  the  lower  half 
bulging  outwardly  towards  the  apex  of  the  wings.  Second 
and  third  submarginal  cells  about  equal  in  length.  Fig.  16. 
Hairy  bees;  the  females  collect  pollen  on  their  hind  legs. 
Collet es,  CoLLETiDiE  (page  445). 

Not  having  this  combination 20, 

20.  First  submarginal  cell  conspicuously  longer  than  the 
third  and  about  as  long  as  the  second  and  third  com- 
bined   21. 

First  submarginal  cell  about  as  long  as  the  third. 
Some  Andrenidae  (pages  441).  Nomia,  put  by  some  au- 
thors near  Halictus  (page  440),  would  come  here.  In  fact, 
the  Halictidas  probably  should  not  be  separated  from  the 
Andrenidae. 

21.  Basal  vein  straight,  or  nearly  so.  Andrenidae  (page 
441);  also  Protandrena,  which  is  put  in  Panurgidae  on 
page  442  and  which  has  the  apex  of  the  marginal  cell 
truncated. 

Basal  vein  arched.    Some  Halictidae  (page  440). 

22.  Second  submarginal  cell  nearly  quadrate;  only 
sHghtly,  if  any,  longer  than  high;  and  conspicuously  smaller 
than  the  first.  First  recurrent  vein  often  uniting  with  the 
first  transverse  cubital.  Second  recurrent  vein  bent  or 
directed  outward  before  joining  the  first  portion  of  the  sub- 
discoidal  vein.  Fig.  17.  Small  bees  with  very  little  hair; 
usually  black  with  pale  markings  on  the  face.  PROSOPiDiE 
(page  445). 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 23, 

23.  Second  submarginal  cell  much  longer  than  high  and 
usually  not  conspicuously  shorter  than  the  first.  Second 
recurrent  vein  not  strongly  bent  or  directed  outward  before 
joining  the  first  portion  of  the  subdiscoidal  vein.  Marginal 
cell  not  truncate  at  the  tip.  See  Fig.  18.  Many  of  the 
females  have  pollen-collecting  hairs  on  the  under  side  of 

517 


APPENDIX. 

the  abdomen.  No  flat  triangular  area  on  the  apical  dorsal 
abdominal  segment.  Megachilid^  (page  446).    For  further 

details  see 24. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 31. 

24.  No  pad  between  the  tarsal  claws  (except  in  male 
Lithurgus;  see  below).  Not  metallic  colored.  Usually  of 
medium  or  large  size  and  with  rather  hairy  thorax.  Pollen- 
collecting  hairs  on  under  side  of  female's  abdomen.  Apex 
of  marginal  cell  more  or  less  distinctly  separated  from  the 
costal  margin  of  the  wings.  Second  submarginal  cell  re- 
ceiving both  recurrent  veins.  Fig.  18.  Abdominal  pale 
markings,  if  any,  caused  by  hairs.  Megachile  (page  447). 
The  southern  and  western  Lithurgus  has  the  marginal  cell 
sharply  pointed,  instead  of  obtuse,  and  the  female's  face 
is  protuberant. 

Not  having  that  combination  of  characters 25. 

25.  Pale  markings  in  the  surface  of  the  abdomen,  and  not 
merely,  if  at  all,  due  to  hairs.  The  last  dorsal  abdominal 
segment  of  male  toothed  or  lobed.  Female  with  pollen- 
collecting  hairs  on  under  side  of  abdomen.  Abdominal 
markings  usually  yellow  or  red.  Anthidium  and  Dianthid- 
ium  (page  446). 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 26. 

26.  Abdomen  conical ;  pointed  in  female,  armed  with  teeth 
or  spines  in  male;  pale  markings,  if  any,  caused  by  hairs. 
No  pollen-collecting  hairs  on  under  side  of  female.  No 
pad  between  claws.  Fine  hairs,  visible  only  with  a  lens, 
on  the  eyes.  Ccelioxys  (page  446).  A  western  genus, 
Dioxys,  has  much  the  same  form  but  does  not  have  hairy 
eyes;  post-scutellum  with  a  median  tooth. 

Not  having  that  combination  of  characters 27. 

27.  Claws  cleft,  the  inner  tooth  near  the  apex;  a  pad  be- 
tween the  tarsal  claws.  Second  recurrent  vein  received 
beyond  the  tip  of  the  second  submarginal  cell.  No  pollen- 
collecting  hairs  on  under  side  of  abdomen.  Usually  black 
with  whitish  markings  on  abdomen.  Postscutellum  not 
toothed.  Stelis  (page  446).  The  western  Chelynia  has, 
the  second  recurrent  vein  received  at  or  a  little  before  the 
second  transverse  cubital;  some  of  the  species  are  dark 
green  or  blue. 

Not  having  that  combination  of  characters.    A  pad 

518 


APPENDIX. 

between  the  tarsal  claws.  Frequently  metallic  blue  or 
green.  Sometimes  rather  small.  Pollen  collecting  hairs  on 
under  side  of  female's  abdomen.  Abdomen  strongly  con- 
vex.   The  subfamily  Osmiinae 28. 

28.  Metallic  green,  bluish,  or  purplish  (rarely  not).  Apex 
of  marginal  cell  more  or  less  distinctly  separated  from  costal 
margin  of  the  wing.  Second  submarginal  cell  narrowed  not 
more  than  one-half  towards  the  marginal.  Stigma  not  well 
developed.  Antermse  similar  in  both  sexes.  Abdomen 
globose,  or  nearly  so.  Osmia  (page  446).  The  rare  Monu- 
metha  would  come  here  but  it  is  rather  large;  black;  with 
long,  parallel- sided  abdomen;  male  antennae  somewhat  as  in 
Alcidamea  (see  below)  but  without  an  apical  hook. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 29. 

29.  Stigma  well  developed;  lanceolate.  Head  quadrate, 
considerably  extended  behind  the  eyes.  Vein  separating 
the  stigma  from  the  first  submarginal  cell  not  longer  than 
that  between  stigma  and  marginal  cell.  Base  of  first  ab- 
dominal segment  with  a  flattened  or  concave,  smooth, 
shining  plate  or  basin,  the  edge  of  which  is  well  defined. 
Heriades  (page  446).  Ashmeadiella  has  clear  wings;  male 
abdomen  ending  with  four  projections;  second  ventral 
segment  with  no  prominent  tooth  or  ridge. 

Not  having  this  combination  of  characters 30. 

30.  Stigma  not  well  developed.  Apex  of  marginal  cell 
reaching  the  costal  margin  of  the  wing.  Second  submar- 
ginal cell  narrowed  at  least  two-thirds  towards  the  mar- 
ginal. Base  of  abdomen  not  as  in  Heraides.  Southern 
and  western.    Chelostoma. 

Marginal  cell  more  or  less  distinctly  separated  from  the 
costal  margin  of  the  wing.  Second  submarginal  cell  nar- 
rowed not  more  than  one-half  towards  the  marginal.  Vein 
separating  the  stigma  from  the  first  submarginal  cell 
longer  than  that  between  stigma  and  marginal  cell.  First 
dorsal  abdominal  segment  rounded  and  with  a  narrow 
longitudinal  sulcus;  first  ventral  segment  bluntly  pointed. 
Male  flagellum  (the  "whip-lash"  part  of  the  antennae) 
broad  at  first  but  abruptly  narrowed  at  the  sixth  joint; 
joints  of  unequal  lengths,  the  terminal  one  simple.  An- 
dronicus  (page  446).  In  Alcidamea  the  male's  flagellum  is 
thickened,  the  joints  of  about  equal  length,  the  terminal 

519 


APPENDIX. 

joint  abruptly  constricted  into  a  slender  curved  spine. 
In  Robertsonella  the  flagellum  is  long  and  thread-like. 

31.  Thorax  and  head  black;  abdomen  red,  with  white 
markings  due  to  hair;  marginal  cell  long  and  obtuse  or  very 
slightly  truncate  at  its  tip.  Small  parasitic  bees.  Neo- 
pasites  (page  444). 

Not  so 32. 

32.  Posterior  angle  of  mandible  not  farther  forward  than 
the  posterior  margin  of  the  eye  (See  Fig.  2).  Females  and 
most  males  with  a  fiat  triangular  area  on  the  apical  dorsal 
abdominal  segment.  Panurgidae  (page  442).  Usually  the 
apex  of  the  marginal  cell  is  somewhat  truncate,  often  dis- 
tinctly so  (see  Fig.  19)  but  in  Halictoides  this  cell  is  pointed 
and  its  apex  reaches  the  costal  margin  of  the  wing.  Our 
eastern  H.  novcB-anglice  visits  picker  el- weed  flowers;  its 
thorax  is  hairy;  second  submarginal  cell  narrowed  above  33. 

Not  so.  Usually  rare  genera  which,  although  having 
only  two  submarginal  cells,  belong  to  families  that  typi- 
cally have  three.  38, 

33.  Apex  of  marginal  cell  more  or  less  remote  from  the 
costa  or  else  broadly  obliquely  truncate,  mandibles  not 
toothed.  (Perditella,  largely  yellow,  has  only  one  recurrent 
vein) 34. 

Apex  of  marginal  cell  reaching  the  costa,  rather 
pointed 37. 

34.  First  submarginal  cell  not  much,  if  any,  longer  than 
the  second.  Abdomen  black,  smooth,  shining.  Ocelli 
almost  in  line,  not  in  a  triangle.    Scrapter. 

First  submarginal  cell  distinctly  longer  than  the 
second 35. 

35.  Marginal  cell  not  longer  than  the  well-developed 
stigma;  truncate  at  the  tip.  Fig.  19.  Hind  metatarsus 
narrower  than  the  tibia.  Small  bees  with  the  head  and 
thorax  more  or  less  metallic  green  or  blue  and  the  abdomen 
usually  with  light  spots  or  bands.  Perdita  (page  442) ,  and 
its  subgenera. 

Marginal  cell  much  longer  than  the  stigma ......  .36. 

36.  Abdomen  with  conspicuous  light  spots  or  bands  in  the 
surface  (not  caused  by  hairs).    Spinoliella. 

Abdomen  not  so  marked.  Calliopsis  has  the  ocelli 
in  a  triangle  and  has  rather  conspicuous  light-colored  Ibands 

520 


APPENDIX* 

of  hair  on  the  abdomen.  Paniirginus  (body  delicately 
punctured;  mngs  nearly  clear)  and  Pseudopanurgus 
(coarsely  punctured;  wings  very  dark)  have  no  such  bands. 
Panurgus  differs  from  these  in  not  having  the  marginal 
cell  distinctly  trimcate  at  the  tip;  female  hind  tibiae  and 
tarsi  with  long  dense  pubescence. 

37.  Abdomen  short,  rather  globose;  black  or  with  white 
hair-bands.  Hind  tibia  and  metatarsus  of  equal  breadth; 
female  hind  legs  densely  pubescent;  male  hind  femora  short 
and  stout.    Macropis. 

Abdomen  usually  rather  long.  Second  joint  of  hind 
tarsus  not  angulate  beneath.  Halidoides  has  the  lab  rum 
as  large  as  the  clypeus;  head  and  thorax  sparsely  pubes- 
cent; antennas  longer  than  the  thorax;  male  clypeus  black. 
Parandrena  has  the  head  and  thorax  rather  densely  pubes- 
cent; antennas  not  longer  than  the  thorax;  male  clypeus 
yellow;  female  abdomen  at  least  partly  reddish  or  brownish. 
Dufourea  (or  Hemihalictus)  differs  from  these  in  that  the 
transverse  median  vein  joins  the  median  vein  before  the 
basal  vein. 

38.  Basal  vein  arched  in  the  fashion  characteristic  of  its 
family,  Halictidee  (page  440).    Dialictus. 

Basal  vein  not  strongly  arched 39. 

39.  Short,  compact,  southern  Anthophorids  (page  444). 
Apex  of  marginal  cell  not  touching  the  margin  of  the  wing. 
Anthophoriila ,  practically  Exomalopsis  (9  and  Fig.  8) 
with  only  two  submarginal  cells. 

Marginal  cell  extremely  small.  Very  small  parasitic 
bees  (Nomadidas,  page  442).     Neolarra. 

Marginal  cell  much  longer  than  the  stigma  and  obtuse 
at  its  tip,  which  does  not  touch  the  wing's  margin,  second 
submarginal  cell  much  longer  than  high  and  receiving  both 
recurrent  veins  near  each  other  at  about  its  middle;  third 
discoidal  cell  contracted  above.  Small  parasitic  bees 
(Nomadidae,  page  442),  usually  red  and  black  with  pale 
markings  caused  by  scale-like  hairs.  Phileremus;  has  been 
put  near  Ccelioxys  (page  446). 


52ti 


APPENDIX. 


Several  whose  opinions  I  value  very  highly 

have  objected  to  my  referring  (p.  455)  to 

potatoes  as  fungus  root  galls.    My  authority  was  Bernard, 

a  Frenchman.     I  do  not  know  whether  he  was  right  or 

wrong  but  I  still  believe  that  he  was  right. 

On  page  414  the  alternation  of  generations  in  Cynipoidea 
was  mentioned  and  the  confession  made  that  the  matter 
had  not  been  worked  put  for  the  American  species.  The 
American  Museum  of  Natural  History  has  in  press  some 
papers  on  the  subject  by  Mr.  Kinsey.  It  is  found  that  such 
a  condition  of  afiFairs  does  exist  in  American  species. 


5» 


FIELD  BOOK  OF  INSECTS. 


in  closing,  permit  me  to  request  that,  if  errors  are  de- 
tected among  the  thousands  of  categorical  statements 
made  in  this  book,  they  be  brought  to  my  attention.  If 
portions  are  not  clear  or  if  you  desire  further  information, 
I  shall  be  glad  to  do  what  I  can  to  help  you.  It  is  for  such 
a  service,  among  others,  that  the  American  Museum  of 
Natural  History,  New  York  City,  exists. 


S23 


HABITAT  AND  PLANT  INDEX 


It  is  hoped  that  the  following  index  will  be  useful,  but  it  gives  only 

hints.     For  example,  in  the  matter  of  food:  Many  larvae  feed  on  a 

wide  variety  of  plants;  it  would  be  out  of  the  question  to  list  them  all. 

Roughly  grouping  by  habits  and  habitat  the  insects  mentioned  in 

this  book,  notice: 

On  and  in  mammals,  including  man,  77,  231,  260,  268,  270,  279, 
476,  S07;  birds,  77.  106,  279;  frogs  and  turtles,  262;  snails,  262, 
284,  316;  earthworms,  271. 

In  ants'  nests,  132.  184,  253.  254-  296,  304,  334,  365,  507.  S08. 

Feeding  on  plant-lice  or  scale-insects,  108,  132,  212,  242,  254, 
255.  257,  278,  298. 

Under  stones,  boards,  etc.  Many  insects,  especially  Carabidae, 
hide  in  such  places.     See,  also,  107,  112,  113,  247,  305,  507, 

Under  bark,  39,  61,  64,  79,  97.  112,  214,  236,  241,  242,  248,  297. 
300,  304.  305,  308,  309,  323-325,  336,  337,  339.  342.  344.  350.  356, 
35?. 384. 385. 398, 404. 507. 508. 

In  dry  wood,  308,  323,  332,  337,  342,  411,  447,  508.  509. 

In  decaying  wood,  184,  226,  242,  247,  248,  278,  297,  308,  309, 
321,  324.  326,  332,  335,  336,  381,  385.  507.  509- 

In  decaying  vegetables,  etc.,  236,  252,  268,  272,  276,  278. 

At  sap,  241,  247,  278,  297,  304,  318. 

In  or  on  fungi,  toadstools,  etc.,  226,  236,  242,  295-300,  304,  324, 
329.  381,  384.  385.  395.  405.  507,  508,  510. 

In  books,  food-stuffs,  cereals,  drugs,  etc.,  39,  77,  210,  212,  213, 
222.  247,  300,  302,  305.  321,  322,  324,  381.  382,  400,  404. 

In  dry  animal  matter,  hair,  feathers,  ham,  etc.,  226,  272,  276, 
302,320,  330. 

In  carrion,  272,  273.  295-297,  304,  305,  320,  330. 

In  and  about  excrement,  236,  247,  263,  264,  268,  270-274, 
278,  294.  296,  297.  326,  329,  507. 

Aquatic  insects,  40-53,  57-60,  96-104,  209,  236-248,  256,  275, 
278,  288-294,  305.  363.  400,  506,  509. 

On  snow,  40,  57,  236. 

Galls.  The  main  discussion,  arranged  according  to  plants, 
455-472.     See,  also,  218,  219,  223,  278,  312,   360,  396,    401,  408, 

410,  414,  522. 

For  some  of  the  general  feeders  on  orchard  trees  see  pp.  82,  85, 
93,  105,  140,  168,  194,  201,  219,  310,  and  338;  on  shade  trees,  82, 
93,  176,  194,  and  219.  The  following  are  the  principal  references 
to  special  plants  eaten  by  insects: 


Actinomeris,  134. 

Ailanthus,  153,  495. 

Alder,  132,  153,   174,  213.  221. 

225,  360,  362,  370,  398. 
Amarantace^,  144. 
Amaranthus,  492. 
Ambrosia,    176,    218,    353,    357, 

369-371. 
Amelanchier,  224,  359. 
Amorpha,  137,  491. 
Anemones,  236. 
Apple  branches,  etc.,  85,  88,  94, 

308,  323,  335.  352,  353.  356. 

358,  360. 
Apple  fruit,  216,  276,  401,  402. 
Apple  leaves,  88,  148,  152,  168, 

172,  181,  184,  185,  190,  191, 

196,  200,  201,  212,  218,  219, 

222-226,  374. 
Aqnilegia,  144. 


Arabis,  490. 

Arbor- vitae,  220,  221. 

Aristolochia,  141,491, 

Ash,    153.    162,    168,    203,    344, 

345.  348,  350,495- 
Ash,  Prickly,  140. 
Ash,  Mountain,  312. 
Asparagus,  365. 
Asters,  119,  120,  221,  392,  487. 
Azalea,  149,  371. 

Balsam,  354. 

Barley,  see  Grasses. 

Basswood,  225,  375. 

Bayberry,  153,  219,  221. 

Beans,  see  Legumes. 

Beech,  213,  335.  344.  349.  3S0, 

355.  357.  359. 
Beets,  175,  263.  372. 
Beggar-ticks,  218. 


525 


HABITAT  AND  PLANT  INDEX. 


Benzoin,  141. 
Bergamot,  Wild,  153,  495. 
Bidens,  218,  370. 
Bindweed,  see  Convolvulaceae. 
Birch,  122,  124,  127.  152,  153, 
158,  180,  181,  196,  213,  225. 

226,314.487.488,493- 
Blackberry,  185,   IQS,  201,  206, 

219,     224,    226,     263,    312, 

338,  361,  410. 
Black-eyed  Susan,  194,  219. 
Boebera,  491. 
Bouvardia,  152. 
Box-elder,  312,  352,  357,  483. 
Burdock,  126,  220,  488. 
Butternut  and  Walnut  branches, 

etc..  213.344,345,  347,  350, 

354.  357,  359.  360. 
Butternut  and  Walnut  hulls,  219. 
Butternut   and    Walnut   leaves, 

132,  153.  158,  162.  181,  185, 

224,399,495,496. 
Buttonball,  149,  494. 
Buttonwood,  152. 

Cabbage,  see  Cruciferae. 

Carrots,  141,  491. 

Cassia,  138,  491. 

Catalpa,  153. 

Cat-briar,  see  Smilax. 

Cat-tail,  209. 

Cauliflower,  see  Cruciferae. 

Ceanothus,  134. 

Cedar,  131,  342, 

Celery,  179. 

Celtis,  489. 

Cephalanthus,  149. 

Chelone,  487, 

Chenopodium,  144,  492. 

Cherry  branches,  etc.,  207,  214, 

310,312,323.335. 
Cherry  fruit,  276,  402. 
Cherry    leaves,    127,    132,    140, 

152,  153,  156,  166,  181,  190. 

191.  195.  200,  212,  214,  218, 

219,  221-224,  226,  371,  410, 

488,490,491,494,495,496. 
Chestnut    branches,    etc.,    203, 

208,  310,  339,  342,  347,  349, 

355.357.395. 
Chestnut  leaves,  132,  162,  196, 

224. 
Chestnuts,  401. 
Chionanihus,  152,  153. 
Cimicifuga,  134. 
Citrus,  140,  491. 
Cbematis,  410. 
Clover,   133,   137,  221,  225,  242, 

400,  491. 
Clover,    Bush,    144,    225,    314, 

489,  490,  492. 
Columbine,  144,  492. 
Composite,  119. 
Comptonia,  see  Sweet-fern. 
Conifers,  188,  198,  312,  340,  342, 

396,  410. 
CONVOLVULACE^,  152,  153,  373. 
376,  377.  392. 


Corn,  96,  112,  160,  176,  178, 
200.220.263,334,371,374^ 
403.497. 

Corn«5   134,  223,  314.  345.  348. 

^      358,359,370. 

Cotton,  III,  178,  182,401. 

Cottonwood,  see  Populus. 

Cranberry,  212,  219. 

Cratcegus,  219,  223,  226,  <so. 
360,  370. 

Crotalaria,  i66. 

Croton,  218. 

Crucifer^,  114,  134,  136^  13-^ 

179.220,263,373,402,490. 
i^ucumber,  209,  371,  374. 

CUCURBITACE^,    204,     200,    290 
371. 

Currant,  105,  122,  148,  195,  208. 

219,  276,  352,  410,  487. 
Cynoglossum,  131. 

Dahlias,  106. 

Daisies,  194, 195,  see  Compositae 

Dangleberry,  152. 

Decodon,  149. 

Desmodium,  144. 

Dock,  133,  176,  368,  490. 

Doellingeria,  120. 

Dogbane,  367. 

Dogwood,  see  Cornus. 

Dutchman's-pipe,  141. 

Egg-plant,  150,  374. 

Elder  {S ambucus) ,  339, 

Elm  branches,  etc.,  93,  124,  346, 

348,  349.  353.  355,  360. 
h.\vn.  leaves,  120,  124,  153,  164, 

166,  174,  222,  225,  370,  410, 

487.493. 
Epilobium,  149. 
Eupatorium,  221,  371. 
Euphorbia,  152. 
Everlastings,  124,  488. 

Ferns,  93,  209. 

Gerardia,  126,  487. 

Gleditsia,  see  Legumes. 

Golden-rod,  see  Solidago. 

Gooseberry,  122,  195,  213,  218, 
352,  410,  487. 

Grapefruit,  215.  276,  402. 

Grape  leaves,  88,  93,  147-149, 
170,  202,  208,  214,  215, 
223,  226,  332,  367,  373, 
374.  402,  410,  493,  494. 

Grape  stems,  etc.,  88,  206,  323, 
342,  345.  348,  349.  352,  368, 
401. 

Grasses  and  Sedges,  including 
Wheat,  Oats,  etc.:  85,  86, 
88,  III.  128.  130,  144,  146, 
164,  175,  184,  210,  220,  222, 
223,  242,308,331,  363,  371, 
403.  410,  414,  483,  488, 
492. 

Hackberry,  130,  344,  355,  489. 


526 


HABITAT  AND  PLANT  INDEX. 


Hazel,  162,  222,  224,  225,  370. 

398. 
Hemlock,  164.  221,  313,  348. 
Hickory     branches,     etc.,    213, 

310,  323,  332,  339.  341.  344. 

345. 346. 348-360,  405,  483, 

484. 
Hickory  hulls,  219. 
Hickory  leaves,    I53,    IS8,    162, 

164,     170,     181,     i8s,     213, 

222-225,  309,  495.  496. 
Hickory  nuts,  401. 
Hollyhock,  126. 
Honeysuckle,  147,  225. 
Hop,  120,  122,  124,  131- 
Horn-beam,  see  Ironwood. 
Horse  chestnut,  219,  310- 
Huckleberry,  132,  152,  153.  210, 

219.  22s.  494- 
Hydrangea,  149. 
Hypericum,  131. 

Indigo,  137,  396,  491- 
Iris,  218. 
Ironweed,  391- 
Ironwood,  iS3-  222-225.  355 
Ivy,  Poison,  225. 

Jatnestown  Weed,  374- 
Jasminium,  152. 
June-berry,  208,  224. 
Juniper,  164,  221. 

Kalmia,  132,  225. 
Knot  grass,  368. 

Lamb's-quarters,  144,  263. 

Larch,  222. 

Laurace^,  142,  156,  491. 

Laurel,  153,  225. 

Legumes,    131.    I33.    138,    I44. 

166,    219,    220,    299,    344, 

357,  372,  379.  491. 
Lepidium,  490. 
Lespedeza,  144,  225,  314,  489- 
Lettuce,  247. 
Lichens,  164,  166,  209. 
Lilac,  153.  495- 
Linden,  153,  312,  349.  353.  358- 

360,  370,  410. 
Liquidamhar^  156,  158. 
Liriodendron  ,93,   is6,  158,  218, 

226,  491,  496. 
Locust,  see  Rohinia. 
Locust,  Honey,  see  Gleditsia. 
Lonicera,  225. 
Lotus,  209. 
Lupinus,  221. 

Magnolia.  142,  218,  491. 

Mandrake,  117. 

Maple  branches,   etc.,   93.   203, 

310,    312,    314.    344.    345. 

347.  348.  395.  410. 
Maple  leaves,  92,  162,  164,  174. 

190,     192,     196,    219.    224, 

370,  496. 
Marigold,  Fetid,  491- 


Meibomia,  see  Tick-trefoil. 
Melons,  204,  209,  299,  371- 
Milkweeds,  116,  169,  362,  369, 

377.  486. 
Millet,  374. 
Morning-glory,    see    Convolvu- 

lacese. 
Moss.  247,  248. 
Mulberry,  192,  323.  354- 
Myrica,  213. 

Nettles.     122,     124,    402,     487, 

488. 
Nightshade,  374. 
Nuts,  222,  400. 

Oak,  acorns,  219,  222,  400,401. 

Oak  branches,  etc.,  92,  203,  310, 
325.  332,  339.  342,  344-347. 
352,  354-357.  395.  484. 

Oak  leaves,  88.  no,  132,  144, 
158.  160,  162,  164,  174, 
181,  190,  199,  209,  219, 
221,  223,  224,  226,  367, 
399,  492.  496. 

Oats,  see  Grasses. 

Onions,  79,  263,  275. 

Opuntia,  213. 

Orange,  iii. 

Osage  Orange,  192,  354. 

Palmetto,  403. 

Palms,  93. 

Pansies,  117. 

Papaw,  142,  492. 

Parsley,  141. 

Parsnip,  491. 

Parsnip.  Water.  221. 

Passiflora,  153. 

Passion-flower,  117,  486. 

Peach,  93.   207,  310,  312,  323, 

371,  374.  402. 
Pear  branches.  86,310,  323.353. 

359. 
Pear  fruit,  218,  242. 
Pear  leaves,  86,   152,   190,  200, 

410. 
Peas,  see  Legumes. 
Pepper,  153.  495- 
Pepper-grass,  490. 
Persimmon.  158.  162,  323. 
Pickerel- weed,  363. 
Pine   branches,   etc..    108,    213, 

218,    308,    309,    312,    342, 

347.    350,    354.    356,    358, 

359.  396. 
Pine  leaves,  132,  153,  164,  220, 

221,  496. 
Pitcher  plants,  218,  240. 
Plantain,  126,  169. 
Plum   branches,  etc.,   207,   214, 

226.  310,  344.  345.353.358. 
Plum  fruit,  402. 
Plum  leaves,  132,  153,  181,  212, 

223,  371,  495. 
Poplar,  see  Populus. 
Populus    branches,     etc.,     124, 

203,  314.  355.  360,  361. 


527 


HABITAT  AND  PLANT  INDEX. 


Populus  leaves,  124,  127,  150, 
152.  181,  221,  225,  332,  368! 
410,  488,  494. 

Portulacca,  117. 

Potato,  ISO,  176,  221,  247,  364, 
366,  369,  374,  391,  392, 
_    402.  494- 

Prickly  pear,  213. 

Primrose,  evening,  223. 

Privet,  495. 

Ptelea,  140. 

Pumpkin,  204.  209,  299,  371. 

Pursley,  148. 

Quince,  218,  359. 

Radish,  2J53. 
Rag- weed,  see  Ambrosia. 
Raspberries,  113,  195. 
Raspberry  leaves,  195,  201,  219, 

303.  367.  377.  410. 
Raspberry  stems,  etc.,  206,  263, 

312,361,445. 
Rattle-box,  166. 
Red-bud,  345,  359. 
Rice,  see  Grasses. 
Robinia  branches,  etc.,  203,  219, 

346,    348,    352,    358,    483, 

484,  492, 
Robinia  leaves,    143,   182,   221, 
„  ^.225,374.  375. 
Kobtnta  seeds,  379. 
Rock-cress,  see  Cruciferas. 
Rose,  90,  106,  152,  185,  218.  219, 

T>  224,331,370,373.396,410. 

Kuaoeckta,  194,  219. 
Rumex,  133,  176.  368,  490. 
Rye,  see  Grasses. 

Salvia,  153,  495, 
Sand-myrtle,  210. 
Sarracenia,  218,  240. 
Sassafras,    141,    156,    219,    362, 
491,  496. 

SCROPHULARIACE^,   1 19. 

Sedum,  486. 

Shepherd's-purse,  see  Cruciferse. 
Sida,  144,  492. 
Skunk-cabbage,  278,  363. 
Smart-weed,  90. 
Smilax,  175.  218,  226,  323. 
Snapdragon,  126. 
Snowberry,  147. 

SOLANACE^,   150. 

Solidago,  164,  218,  219,  221,  226, 

276,  369,  371,  392. 
Sorghum,  220. 
Sorrell,  133,  490. 


Spice-bush,  141,  156,  491. 

Spinach,  263,  372. 

Spircea,  134,  218. 

Spruce,   164,  219,  221,  313,  342 

_        348,  354. 

oquash,  204,  209,  299,  371. 

Strawberry,   105,  219,  367,  373 

399-401.  403. 
Sugar  cane,  403. 
Sumac,  162,  219,  221,  314,  358 

359.  362.  399. 
guntlower,  119,  126,  220,  486. 
Sweet-brier,  224. 
Sweet-fern,  153,  213. 
Sweet-gum,  158,  162,  496. 
Sweet-potato,     see     Convolvul- 

aceae. 
Sycamore,    153,   219,   224,  310, 

356. 
Sytnphoricarpos,  147. 

Thistle,  126. 

Thorn,  Black,  226. 

Tick-trefoil,  144,  490,  492. 

Tigridia,  218. 

Tobacco,    150,    178,    210,    374 

494. 
Tomato,    150,     176,    178,    374, 

392,  494. 
Trumpet  vine,  153. 
Tulip-tree,  see  Liriodendron. 
Turtle-head,  487. 
Typha,  209. 

Vaccinium,  see  Huckleberry. 
Viburnum,    147,    149,  223,  493, 

-.r.         494. 

Violets.  117,  118.  236,  486. 
Virginia    Creeper,   93,    147-149, 

170,    202,     226,    359.    367. 

484,  493,  494. 

Walnut,  see  Butternut. 
Walnuts,  English,  218. 
Water-lily,  363,  371. 
Witch-hazel,  174,  225. 
Wheat,  see  Grasses. 
Willow  branches,  etc.,  124,  203, 

207,  226,  359,  360,  410. 
Willow  catkins,  218,  364. 
Willow   leaves,    122,    124,    127, 

ISO,  152,  153,  181,  223,  225, 

332,    368,    370,    371.    410, 

487,  488,  494. 
Wolfberry,  130,  489. 

Yucca,  146,  228. 


52» 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX 


abboti,  Oikelicus,  199. 

abbotii,  Sphecodina,  148,  493. 

abbreviate,  Sphex,  439. 

Abdomen,  7. 

abdominalis,  Cephenomyia,  260. 

abdominalis,  Tipula,  236,  LXIII. 

Aberrant  Long-horned   Beetles, 

^     336. 
abnormis,  Eriophyes,  470. 
abrupta,      Bombyliomyia,      262, 
LXVI. 

ACALYPTER/E,  258,  279. 

Acalypterate,  274. 
Acanalonia,  85. 
ACANTHIID^.  102. 
Acanthocephala,  113. 
Acanthocerini,  328. 
Acanthocinus,  356. 
Acanthoderes,  355. 
Acanthoderini.  353,  355. 

ACANTHOSOMIN^,  II4. 
Acanthus,  106. 
ACARINA,  480. 
Acarus,  456,  468. 
acericola,  Phenacoccus,  92. 
acericola,  Phyllocoptes,  466. 
aceriella,  Pkyllonoryter,  225. 
Achalarus,  144,  492. 
achemon,  Pholus,  149,  493. 
Achlarus,  144,  492. 
Achrostical,  230. 
Acilius,  290. 
Acmaops,  350. 
Acorn  Weevil,  400. 
acrcea,  Estigmene,  168,  XLIX. 
Acraspis,  457,  462. 
ACRIDIDvE,  66. 
ACRIDIN^,  68 
Acr/7M5,  504. 
Acrobasis,  213. 
Acronyc/a,  172,  497. 
Acrosternum,  114. 
Acrydium,  66,  68. 
Ac<ia5,  158,  496. 
aculiferus,  Leptosiylus,  356. 
acuminata,  M elanophila,  313. 
acuminata,  Strangalia,  351. 
Adalia,  499,  LXXV. 
adealUs,  Symphysa,  209. 
Adelocera,  309. 
Adephaga,  280,  281,  292. 
Adirus,  410. 
admirabilis,  Syrbula,  68. 
Admiral,  Red,  124. 
advena,  Cathartus,  300. 
Acrfes,  240. 
^GERiiD^,  203. 

^GIALITID^,  505, 

^letes,  504. 
(znea.  ChcBtopsis,  263. 
cenea,  Tischeria,  226. 
(Bneola,  Melanophila,  313. 
aeniventris,  A?romyza,  458. 
«raJa,  Synchlora,  195.  LVIII. 


(zreum,  Callidium,  342. 
iEscHiN^,  46. 

iEsCHNID^,  45. 

asculanum,  Proteoteras,  219. 
CBthiops,  Endelomyia,  410. 
ajffinis,  Bombus,  450,  451,  453. 
affinis,  Trichius,  335. 
afflictella,  Salebria,  213. 
Agamic  reproduction,  87. 
Agapostemon,  440. 
Agaristid^,  170,  214. 
Age/g«a,  36,  248. 
Agelenid^.  38. 
Ageneotettix,  69. 
Agnopteryx,  221. 
Agonoderus,  288. 
Agrilus,  312. 
Agriov,  45. 
Agrowyza.  457,  458. 
Agromyzid^,  278,  457. 
Agro/j5,  172. 

Ailanthus  Silk-moth,  153. 
ajaa;,  Papilio,  142. 
Alabama,  182. 
A/aM5,  308. 

albilinea,  Leucania,  176,  LII. 
albipennis,  Bibio,  243,  LXV. 
albofasciatus,  Clytanthus,  349. 
Alcidamea,  519. 
Alderfly,  52. 

ALEYRODIDiE,  8  I,  90. 

Aio'''o^«5,  90. 

algonquina,  Paratiphia,  427. 
algonquinus.  Balaninus,  401. 
alienus,  Lasius.  422. 

ALLOCORHYNINiE,  396. 

Allocorhynus,  396. 

Allorhina,  334. 

aZo/>e, 5a/yrM5,i28,489,  XXXII. 

alpha,  Liopus,  358. 

Alsophila,  194. 

alternans,  Temnostoma,  LXVIII. 

alternatum,  Dorcaschema,  354. 

Alulae,  229. 

A^yrfM5,  113. 

Alypia,  170. 

A/y5on,  433. 

Alysonid^,  433. 

Awcra,  287. 

AMATID.E.  164. 

Amber-wing,  48. 

Amblycorpha,  71,  72. 

Ambrosia,  405. 

Awftry^MS,  96. 

Ambush  Bugs,  no. 

amelanchieriella,  Stigmella,  224. 

americalis,  Epizeuxis,  184. 

americana  Acronycta,   174,  497, 

americana,  Cimbex.         410, 

LXXXVII. 
americana,  Galerucella,  371. 
americana,  Harrisina,  202,  LIX. 
americana,  HetcBrina,  44,  X. 


529 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


americana,     Malacosoma,     i68. 
191,  LVII. 

americana,  Melitta,  441. 

americana,  Notidobia,  57. 

americana,  Olfersia,  LXXI. 

americana,  Feriplaneta,  64,  XVI. 

americana,  Ranatra,  100,  XXV. 

americana,  Sapyga,  426. 

americana       Schistocerca,       70, 
XVIII. 

americana,  Silpha,  296. 

americanum,  Omophron,  286. 

americanus,  Chrysophanus,  133. 

americanus,  Lethocerus,  100. 

americanus,  Meloe,  390. 

americanus,  Nicrophorvs,  295. 

americanus,  Stigmus,  434. 

americanus,  Syrphus,  LXVI. 

arnica,  Catocala,  181,  LIV. 

Ammalo,  169. 

Ammobia,  439. 

Ammophila,  438. 

amcenus,  Phymatodes,  342. 

Ampeloglypter,  401. 

Ampelophagus,  149,  493. 

ampelophila,  Drosophila,  276. 

ampelopsidis,      Telaniona,     484, 
XXIII. 

ampelopsiella,  Phyllocnistis,  226. 
Amphibolips,  4x4,  457,  462,  464, 

•LXXX  VIII. 
Amphicerus,  323. 
Amphion,  147,  493. 
Amphionycka,  361. 
Amphizoid^,  506. 
Ampulicid^,  433. 
amyntor,  Ceratomia,  153,  493. 
Anacampsis,  221. 
Anacrabro,  434. 
anaglypticus,  Copris,  329. 
Anal  cell,  229. 
analis,  Attelabus,  399. 
analts,  Hydropsyche,  58. 
ananassi,  Thecodiplosis,  458. 
Anasa,  113,  262. 
Anas  pis,  386. 
Anatis,  499,  LXXV. 
/Iwaa:,  46. 
Anaxipha,  76. 
anchoceloides,  Rhynchagrotis,  172 

A«cy/i5,  219. 
Ancyloxypha,  144. 
ancylus,  Aspidictus,  XXIV. 
Andrena,  249,  441,  512. 
Andrenid^,  441,  S17. 
Andricus,  457,  462,  464. 
Androconia,  143. 
Andronicus,  446,  519. 
Angle-wings,  120. 
Angoumois  Grain-moth,  220. 
anguinella,  Stigmella,  224. 
anguinus,  Pilyobius,  309. 
angulala,  Pyractomena,  316. 
angulifera,  Callosamia,  158,  496. 
angusella,  Acrobasis,  213, 
angusii,  Datana,  185. 
angustata,  Amara,  287. 


anguslalus,  Macrodactylus,  331 
angusticollis,  Meloe,        ^oo. 

LXXXV.  '*^"' 

Anisodactylus,  288. 
^  nisolahts,  61. 
Anisoplera,  45. 
^  wj\yoi>^e?'3'.r,  194. 
Anisola,  160,  496. 
annularis,  Pnlisies,  430. 
annulatus,  Margaropus,  476. 
annulicornis,    Helicopsyche,    57, 

-^  V . 
Anobium,  Z3>2. 
Anomala,  332. 
Anopheles,  238,  LXIV. 
Aplasia,  116,  127,  138,  486. 
antcBus,  Stratcegus,  ^zz- 
Antenna,  7,  32. 
anlennata,  Xylina,  172,  LIT. 
antennalor,  Charieslerus,  113. 
antennalum,  Calliaium,  ZA2. 
anthici,  Ilonida.  458. 
Anthicid^;,  381,  386. 
Anthidium,  446,  518. 
Anthoboscin^,  427. 
Anthocorid^,  97. 
Anthomyia,  263. 
Anthomyid^,  259,  263. 
Anthonomus,  401. 
Anthophora,  390,  391,  444,  512, 

515. 
Anthophorid^,  440,  444,  514 

521. 
Anthophorula,  521, 
Anthrax,  24g. 
Anthrenus,  303. 
Anthribid^,  393,  394,  395,  500, 

506. 
antiopa,      Vanessa,      122.      4.87 

XXX.  ^  '• 

Antispila,  223. 

Ant-lion,  54,  478. 

Ant's  cows,  88. 

Ants,   True,  88,    106,    132,    134, 

184.    253.    254.    295,    304, 

334.    365.    408,    41S,    436, 

478,  481,  484,  489. 
Ants,  Velvet,  427,  481. 
Ants,  White,  76,  478,  479,  482. 
Apantesis,  169. 
Apaiela,  172. 
Apcenogaster,  420. 
Aphidid^.  82,  87,  132,  456. 
Aphids.  79,   87,    132.  222,   434, 

XXIV.  ^  ^ 

Aphilanthops,  435,  436. 
Aphis,  88. 
Aphis-lion,  54. 
Aphodiini,  329. 
Aphodius,  329. 
aphrodite,    Argynnis,    118,    486, 

XXVIII. 
apicitripunctella  Recurvaria,  221 
apiculaia,  Nepa,  100. 
Apid^,  439,  453,  512. 
Apiomerus,  107. 
Apion,  396. 
Apionin^,  396. 


530 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


Apis,  453.  512. 

ApoiDiSA,  408,  439,  512-521. 

Apocephahis.  25,^. 

appendiculatus,  Diphadyitis,  410. 

appendigaster,  Evania,  411. 

Apple-borer,  i6o. 

Apple  Curculio,  401. 

Apple  Maggot,  276. 

Apple- wcrm,  216. 

APTERA,  39. 

Aquarius,  104. 

aquaticus,  Sminthurus,  40,  VIII. 

ARACHINIDA,  32. 

Aradid^,  97,  112. 

Aranea  34,  36. 

Archasia,  484,  XXIII. 

Archimerus,  n3. 

archippus,  Basilarchia,  116,  127, 

XXVII. 
archippus,  Danaus,  486. 
Archips,  219. 
arctia,  Hadena,  175,  LI. 
arctica,  Vespa,  430,  511. 
ARCTIID.E,  166,  214,  497. 
Arctocorixa,  99. 

arcuata,  Corythuca,  no,  XXVI. 
argentata,  Halisidota,  170. 
argentata,  Notogonidea,  437- 
argentinotella,  Phyllonoryter.  225. 
argillacea,  Alabama,  182,  LII. 
Argiope,  36. 
Argiopid^.  33.  34- 
argus.  Chelymorpha,  376. 
argM5,  Halesus,  57,  XV. 
argutanus,  Episimus,  219. 
..4rgyMn/5,  117,  118.  486. 
Argyresthia,  220. 
Arhopalus,  347. 
Arilus,  108. 
Arista,  230. 
Aristotelia,  221. 
Armored  Scales.  92. 
armiger,  Heliothis,  178,  LII. 
Army  maggots,  242. 
Army-worm,  Beet,  175. 
Army- worm,  Fall,  175. 
Army- worm,  Wheat-head,  176. 
Arnly,  53. 
Arphia,  70. 
arthemis,  Basilarchia,   127,  488, 

XXVII. 
Arthromacra,  384. 
ARTHROPODA,  32. 
arvensis.  Sphecodes,  XCIII. 
Asemini,  339,  341. 
Asemum,  341. 
Asexual  reproduction,  87. 
Ashmeadiella.  519. 
ashtoni,  Psithyrus,  449,  453. 
AsiLiD/E,  230,  234.  249.  250. 
Asilus,  250. 
AsoPiN^,  114. 
asparagi,         Crioceris,  365, 

LXXXIII. 
aspersus,  Hyperplatys,  358. 
Aspidiotus,  93,  XXIV. 
Assassin-bugs,  107. 
assimilis,  Dineutes,  293. 


assimilis,  Muscina,  267,  271. 
.45/a<a.  437. 
Astatine,  436. 
Asteromyia,  4.57,  470,  472. 
aster ias,  Papilio,  141. 
a5/>'ona.r,  Basilarchia,  126,  488, 

XXXI. 
astylus,  Calasymbolus,  152,  494. 
atalanta,     Pyrameis,     124,     487, 

XXXI. 
o/^,  Ampeloglypler,  402. 
Atitnia,  340. 
Atimioides.  340. 
Atlanticus,  73. 
atlantis,  Argynnis,  118,  486. 
atomarium,  Romaleum,  344. 
a/ra,  Orsodachna,  364. 
atrata,  Megarhyssa,  414. 
atratum,  Priononyx.  438. 
atratus,  Tabanus,  LXV. 
atripennis,  Diabrotica,  371- 
atriventris,  Tetralonia,  445- 
Atropid^,  76. 
Atropos,  78. 

atrox,  Psammochares,  428,  XCII. 
Airyione,  146. 
Attacin^,  158. 
Attagenus,  302. 
Attelabin^,  396,  398. 
Attelabus,  398. 
AttiD/E,  38. 
Augochlora,  440. 
augustus,  Thecla,  132. 
Ajt/cA;,  457,  470. 
auraniia,  Miranda,  36. 
auratiis,         Chrysochus,         367? 

LXXXI. 
auricomus.  Bombias,  451- 
auricularia,  Forficula,  61. 
auronitens,  Phyllonoryter,  225. 
aurora,  Eros,  316. 
australasia,       Periplaneta       64, 

XVI. 
Autographa,  179. 
Aw/owjerj5,  160,  496. 
Auxiliary  vein,  229,  269. 
axillaris,  Purpuricenus,  346. 
Axillary  Cell,  229. 
azurea,  Chrysobothris,  3i4« 

Baccha,  255. 

bachmani,    Libythea,    130,    489, 

XXXIII. 
Back-swimmers,  100. 
Bacon-beetle,  302. 
baculus,  Lipeurus,  78,  XXI. 
Bag-worm,  198. 
bajalus,  Hylotrupes,  342. 
Balancers,  229. 
Balaninus,  400. 
balsamicola,  Cecidotnyia,  458. 
Baltimore,  119. 
Barce,  108. 
Bark-beetle,  405. 
Bark-lice,  78.  91.  478,  482. 
Bark-slippers,  342. 
Basal  cell.  229- 
Basal  veins,  406. 


531 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


basalts,  Celetes,  316. 
basalts,  Ceresa,  484. 
Basilarchia,  116,  126,  127,  488. 
basilare,  Sinoxylon,  322. 
Basilona,  164,  496. 
Basitarsus,  8,  408. 
basseitii,  Diastrophus,  468. 
batatas,  Rhabdophaga,  458. 
batatus,  Neuroterus,  464. 
batesi,  Phyciodes,  119,  487. 
bathyllus,    Tharybes,    144,    492, 

XXXVII. 
Batrachedra,  223. 
Batyle,  346. 
Bean  Weevil,  379. 
Beare-wormes,  166,  497. 
Bed-bug,  106,  112. 
Bed-bug,  Big,  107. 
bedeguar,  Cecidomyia,  468. 
Bee  Fly,  249. 
Bee-moth,  212. 
Bees,   249,   406,   408,   439,  478, 

512-521. 
Beetles,  280,  479,  482,  498. 
Beetles  of  Our  Lady,  298. 
belangerella,  Telphusa,  221. 
belfragei,  Archasia,  484,  XXIII. 
bella,  Euaresta,  LXXI. 
bella,  Utetheisa,  166,  XLIX. 
Bellamira,  350. 
bcllona,      Brenthis,      118       486, 

XXIX. 
Belostoma,  90,  100. 

BELOSTOMIDiC,  96,  99. 

Bembecia,  206. 
Bembecid/E,  433,  437. 
Bembex,  438. 
Bembidium,  286,  287. 
Bembidula,  438. 
Benacus,  100. 
berenice,  Anosia,  116. 
Berytid^.  112. 
Bethylid/E,  425,  427. 
betulella,  Acrobasis,  213. 
betulivora,  Pkyllonoryter,  225. 
bibens,  Trichius,  335. 
Bibio,  243. 
BiBiONiD^,  232,  243. 
bicaudatus,  Amphicerus,  323. 
bicolor,  Astata,  437. 
bicolor,  Chalepus,  375. 
bicolor.  Coptocycla,  377, 

LXXXIII. 
bicolor,  Galerita,  287. 
bicolor,  Rhodites,  468. 
bicolor,  Rhynchites,  396. 
bicolor,  Strangalia,  351. 
bicornis,  Bostrichus,  323. 
Bicyrtes,  437,  438. 
Bidessus,  290, 
bifasciata,     Latreillimyia,     262, 

LXVIII. 
bifoveolatutn,  Prtononyx,  438. 
bifurcus.        Boletotherus,        384, 

LXXXIV. 
bigsbyana,  Calligrapha,  370. 
Bill-bugs,  403. 
bimaculata,  Oberea,  361. 


bimaculaia,  Thelia,  484,  XXIII. 
btmaculatus,  Bombus,  450,  453. 
bimaculatus,  Molorchus,  345. 
btmaculatus,  Tylonotus,  344. 
binotata,  Enchenopa,  483. 
Biorhiza,  457,  464. 
bipunctata,  Adnlia.  LXXV. 
bipunctata,  Xabea,  76. 
bipustulatus,  Atlelabus,  399. 
Bird  Lice,  78. 
Bird  Locust,  70. 
birenimaculatus,  Odynerus,  XC. 
biselliella,  Tineola,  227. 
Bittncomorpha,  236. 
Bittacus,  56. 

biusius,  Leptostylus,  357. 
bivittata,  Acanalonia,  85.  XXIII. 
bivittata,  Acmaops,  350. 
bivittata,  Cassida,  37  7, 

LXXXIII. 
Black-bettle,  64. 
Blackberry,  Crown-borer.  206. 
blackburnii,   Ceotrupes,   LXXX. 
Black-flies,  70,  243. 
Black-head  of  Cranberry,  219. 
Black-wing,  45. 
Blastobasid.^,  222. 
blatchleyi,  Manomera,  65. 
Blatta,  64. 
Blattella,  62. 
Blattid^,  62,  482. 
Blepharida,  373. 
Blepharocerid^,  231,  246. 
Blepharomastix,  209. 
Blight,  87. 
Blissus,  III. 
Blister-beetle,  387. 
Blow-fly,  272. 
Blue-bottle,  272. 
Blue,  Common,  134,  490. 
Blue,  Eastern  Tailed,  133. 
Body-louse,  79. 
Bolboceras,  329. 
Bolbocerosoma,  329. 
Boletophagus,  384. 
Boletotherus,  384. 
bolii,  Spharagemon.  XVIII. 
Bombardier  Beetles,  288. 
Bombias,  449. 
BoMBiDiE,  439.  448,  514- 
bombiformis,       Emphor,       444, 

XCIIL 
Bombomelecta,  516. 
Bombus.  4,  448,  449,  512. 
BoMBYCiD^,  192. 
bombycoides.  La  para,  153. 

BOMBYLIIDiE,  230,  234.  249. 

Bombyliomyia,  262. 
Bombylius,  249. 
Bombyx,  192. 
Bone  Beetles,  320. 
Book-lice,  78,  478,  482. 
Book  Worm,  321. 
BoRBORiD^.  274. 
Borborus,  265,  275- 
borealis,  Bombus,  451,  452. 
borealis,    Calephelis,     130,    489i 
XXXIII. 


532 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  LNDEX. 


borealis,  Ceresa,  484. 

borealis,  Epilachna,  299,  LXXV. 

borealis,  Gryllolalpa,  XX. 

borealis,  PotUania,  460. 

Boreus,  57. 

Bostrickus,  323. 

BOSTRYCHIDyB,  322. 

Bot  Flies,  259. 

Bots,  229,  259. 

bovis,  Hypoderma,  260. 

Brachinus,  287. 

BRACHYCERA.  230.  231.  246. 

Brachymyrmex,  417,  421. 

Brachynus,  284. 

Brachypeplus,  71. 

Brachys,  314. 

Brachytarsus,  395. 

BRACONIDiE,  411. 

Brain,  7. 
Brand.  143. 

brassiccB,  Autographa,  179,  LI. 
hrassicce,  Phorbia,  263. 
brassicoides,  Rhabdophaga,  458. 
Brathinid^,  296. 
Brathinus,  296. 
Break-backs,  306. 
Breeze  Flies,  247,  259. 
Brenthis,  118,  486. 
Brentid^,  394. 
breincornis,  Sphyracephala,  278. 
brevicornis,  Truxalis,  68,  XVIII. 
brevilineum,  Physocnemum,  342. 
brevinodis,  Myrmica,  421. 
brevipennis,  Emesa,  108,  XXVI. 
brevis,  Megachile,  447,  XCIII. 
brevivitella,  Motnpha,  223. 
brizo,  Thanaos,  144,  492. 
Brochymena,  114. 
Brownies,  84,  483. 
Brown-tail  Moth,  188,  190,  285. 
Bruchid.^,  362,  379,  500,  506. 
Bruchus,  379. 
brunnea,  Colaspis,  368. 
brunnea,  Mantispa,  XV. 
brunnea,  Parandra,  336. 
brunneum,  Orthosoma,  338. 
brunnicollis,  Lema,  365. 
Brush-footed  Butterflies,  116. 
biihalus,  Ceresa,  85,  484,  XXIII. 
Bucca,  258,  267. 
buccata,  Cuterebra,  260,  LXVIII. 
Bucculatrix,  224. 
Buckeye,  126. 
Bud-worm,  False,  178. 
Bud-worm.  True,  178. 
Buffalo-bugs,  303. 
Buffalo  Gnats,  243. 
Buffalo-moths,  303. 
Buffalo  Tree-hopper,  85. 
Bugs,  True,  95. 
Bumble  -bee,  448,  512. 
Bumble  Flower-beetle,  334. 
BuPRESTiD^,  310,  337.  502. 
Buprestis,  313. 
Burrowing-bugs,  114. 
Burying  Beetles,  29S 
buskiella,  Gnorimoschema,  221. 
Butterflies,  115.  477- 


Byrrhid^,  306,  508. 
By  turns,  303. 

Cabbage-bug,  114. 
Cabbage-butterfly,       Imported, 

134. 
Cabbage-butterfly,       Old-Fash- 

ioned,  136. 
Cabbage-butterfly,       Southern, 

136. 
Cabbage-maggot,  263, 
cacti.  Coccus,  91. 
cadaverina,  Cynomyia,  266,  267, 

270,LXIX. 
Caddice  flies,   worms,   57,  228, 

477.  480. 
Cadelle,  305. 
Cceniella,  316. 
ccenius,  Calephelis,  130. 
ccBTuleum,  Chalybion,  XCII. 
ccEsar,    Lucilia,    265,    268,    272, 

LXX. 
ccBSarion,    Pseudopyrellia,    265, 

267,  272,  LXIX. 
ccBSonia,      Meganosloma,       137, 

.491.  XXXV. 
ccespitum,     T etr amor  turn ,     421, 

LXXXIX. 
Calandra,  403,  404. 
Calandrin^,  398,  403. 
calanus,  Thecla,  131. 
Calasymbolus,  152,  494. 
calcarata,  Saperda,  360. 
calcilrans,   Stomoxys,    266,    268, 

LXX. 
Calephelis,  130,  489. 
Calichroa,  410. 
Calico-back,  114. 
calidum,  Calosoma, 285,  LXXIII. 
caliginosus,       Harpalus,        288, 

LXXII. 
calignosellus,  Cr ambus,  210. 
Callicera,  253. 
Callidiini,  339,  342. 
Callidioides,  338. 
Callidium,  342. 
callidus,  Chrysops,  LXV. 
Calligrapha,  369. 
Callimoxys,  345, 
Calliopsis,  442,  520. 
Callipbora,  265,  267,  270,  272. 
Callirjiytis,  457,  462,  464. 
Calloides,  347. 
Callosamia,  156,  495. 
Calochromus,  316. 
Calopternus,  387. 
Calopteron,  315. 
Calopteryx,  45. 
calopus,  Aedes,  240. 
Calosoma,  284,  285,  510. 
Calypterate  Diptera,  258. 
Calyptrae,  229. 
Camberwell  Beauty,  122. 
Camel  crickets,  73. 
camellifolia,       Pterophylla,    71, 

XIX. 
Camponotin^,  417. 
Camponotus,  417,  424. 


533 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


Campso',ne.-is,  42''. 

Campylenchia,  483. 

canadensis,  A'edes,  240. 

canadensis,  Contarinia,  472. 

canadensis,  Epochra,  276. 

canaliculatus.  Valgus,  335. 

Cancer-worme,  196. 

Candida,  Saperda,  359,  LXXXI. 

canellus,  Typophorus,  367. 

canescens,  Tetrops,  362. 

canicular  is,    Homalomyia,    263, 
265. 

canis,  Ctenocephalus,  279,  LXXI. 

Canker-worm,  Fall,  194. 

Canker-worm,  Spring,  196. 

canteriator,  Telraopes,  362. 

Cantharides,  387. 

Cantharini,  391. 

Cantharis,  392. 

Canthon,  328. 

canthus,    Satyrodes,     128,    488, 
XXXII. 

capitis,      Pediculus,      79,      483, 
XXI. 

caprcea,  Neoclytus,  348. 

CAPSID.E,  105. 
capsulus,  Callirhylis,  462 
care,  Catocala,  181.  LIII. 

Carabid^,  281,  282,  381,   SOD, 
506, 

Carabus,  284. 

carbonifera,  Asteromyia,  472. 

cardui,     Pyrameis,      126,      488, 

XXXI. 
carnifex,  Phanceus,  329, 

LXXXI. 
Carnivore,  The,  132. 
Carolina,  Copris,  328,  LXXX. 
Carolina,  Dissosteira,  69,  XIX. 
Carolina,  Luteva,  108. 
Carolina,      Phlegethontius,      150, 

494.  XXXIX. 
Carolina,      Stagmomantis,      6s, 

XVII. 
Carolina,  Stictia,  438. 
Carolina,  Vespa,  511. 
carolinensis,  Monohammus,  354. 
Carpenter  Ant,  424. 
Carpenter-bees,  447,  5 12. 
Carpet-beetle,  303. 
Carpet-beetle,  Black,  302. 
Carpocapsa,  216,  218. 
Carpophilus,  305. 
Carrion  Beetles,  295. 
Carter ia,  91. 
carya,  Acrobasis,  213. 
caryce,  Acrobasis,  213. 
caryce,  Balaninus,  401. 
carycz,  Cyllene,  346. 
caryce,  Halisidota,  170,  L. 
carycB,  Microcentrus,  483. 
carycBcaulis,  Phylloxera,  400. 
carycecola,  Caryomyia,  460. 
carycefallax.  Phylloxera,  460. 
caryoefoliella,  Coleophora.  222. 
carycefoliella,  Phyllonoryter,  225. 
caryoefoliella,  Stigmella,  224. 
caryosren,  Phylloxera,  460. 


caryceyence.  Phylloxera,  460. 

caryana.  Laspeyresia,  219. 

Caryo W3/?a,  457,  460. 

Case-makers,  222. 

ca5«,  Piophila,  276,  LXXI. 

Cassida,  377. 

cassidea,  Chelymorpha,  376. 

Cassidini,  363,  376. 

Castianeira,  36. 

cataclystiana,  Eucosma,  218. 

calalpcE,  Ceratomia,  153. 

Caterpillar  Hunter,  285. 

Caterpillars,  481,  485. 

Cathartus,  300. 

Catia,  144. 

Catocala,    179. 

CatocaliN/E,  180. 

Catopsilia,  137,  491. 

Cattle  Tick,  476. 

Catullus,  Pholisora,  144,  492. 

Caupolicana,  512. 

Cave  crickets,  73. 

cavicollis,  Galerucella,  371. 

Cecidomyia,  457,  458.  462,  466, 

468,  470. 
Cecidomyiid^,  242,  457. 
cecropia.   Samia,   154,  415,   495, 

XLI. 
cecrops,  Thecla,  131. 
ce/er,  Chrysops,  LXV. 
Celerio,  148. 
Celery  Looper,  179. 
Celetes,  316. 

celeus,  Phlegethontius,  150,  494. 
Celithemis,  50. 
cementarius,      Sceliphron,      430. 

XCII. 
Cemolobus,  445,  515. 
Cenopis,  219. 
Centipede,  32,  38. 
centrata,  Sapyga,  426. 
Centris,  515. 
Centrodera.  350. 
Centrotin/e,  483. 
ceparum,  Phorbia,  263. 
cepetorum,  Phorbia,  263. 
CephaloiD/E,  506. 
Cephalothorax,  33. 
Cephenomyia,  260. 
Cephid^,  408,  410. 
Cephus,  410. 

Cerambycid^,  337,  362,  500. 
Cerambycin^.  337.  338,  352. 
Cerambycini,  340,  344. 
Cerambycoides,  340. 
cerasi,  Cahroa,  410. 
Ceratina,  447,  512,  516, 
Ceratinid^,  447,  516. 
Ceratocampid^,       100,       262, 

495. 
Ceratogr aphis,  356. 
Ceratomia,  153,  493. 
Ceratophyllus,  279. 
Cerceris,  435,  436. 
Cercopid/E,  81,  86,  433. 
cerealella,  Sitolroga,  220. 
Cercic,  8s,  483. 
Ceria,  253. 


534 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


cerisyi,  Sphinx,  152. 

Ceropales,  428. 

Cerotoma,  372. 

Ceruchus,  325,  326. 

Cetoniin^,  333- 

CeuthopliUus,  73,  XX. 

Ceutorhyncus,  402. 

CkcEtocnema,  373. 

Chceiopsis,  263. 

Chalcidid^,  90. 

Chalcidoidea,  407,  4I4. 

Chalcomyia,  254. 

Chalcophora,  313. 

Chalepus,  375- 

chalybea,  Haltica,  373. 

Chalybion,  439. 

Changa,  74. 

Chariesterus,  II3. 

Charistena,  375- 

charithottius,  Heliconius, 111 Aoo- 

Chaultodes,  52,  481. 

Chauliognathus,  317- 

Checkered  Beetles,  318. 

Checkered  White.  The,  136. 

Cheese  Skippers,  276. 

Chelostoma,  519. 

Chelymorpha,  376. 

Chelynia,  518. 

Chermes,  456. 

Chermid^e,  81,  86. 

Cherry-worms,  276. 

chersis,  Hyloicus,  iS3.  495- 

Chestnut  Weevil,  Lesser,  401. 

Chicken-louse,  78. 

Chigger,  279- 

Chigoe.  279. 

Chilo,  210. 

CHILOPODA,  32.  38. 

Chilosia,  254. 

Chinch-bug,  iii. 

Chion,  340,  344. 

Chionaspis,  XXIV. 

Chionea,  236. 

chionosema,  Olethreutes,  218. 

Chironomid^,  232,  241,  252. 

Chironomus,  241,  244. 

Chitin,  6,  475. 

Chlcenius,  284.  288. 

Chlcenogramma,  153.  495- 

Chlamydini,  365,  366. 

Chlamys,  366. 

Chlcealtis,  69. 

Chloeon,  40. 

Chloridea,  178. 

Chlorion,  438. 

chloris,  Euclea,  200,  LIX. 

Chlorochroa,  114. 

Chceridium,  328. 

Choerocampa,  152. 

CnCEROCAMPINiE,  I47« 

Chorthippus,  69. 

Chortophaga,  70. 

Chrysalis,  116. 

CHRYSIDIDiE,  425- 

Chrysidoidea,  407.  424. 
CAryst^,  425- 

Chrysobothris,  310,  313.  314- 
Chrysochus,  367. 


Chrysodina,  368. 
Chrysogaster,  254. 
Chrysomela,  369. 
Chrysomelid^.  362,  379.  501' 
Chrysomelini,  363.  368. 
Chrysomyia,  266.  270. 
Ckrysopa,  56,  XIV. 
Chrysophanus,  133.  490. 
ChrysopiD/E,  54,  90. 
Chrysopila,  248. 
Chrysops,  247. 

chrysorrhcea,  Euproctis,  190,  LVl. 
Chrysotoxum,  254- 
Cicada,  84. 
Cicada,  82. 
Cicada-killer,  433- 
ClCADELLID^,  81,  86. 
ClCADID^,  80,  82. 

Cicindela,  249.  282,  285,  499. 
ClciNDELlD^,  281,  499- 
Cigarette  Beetle,  322. 
Cimbex,  410. 

cimbiciformis,  Hemaris,  I47. 
Cimex,  106. 
CiMiciD^,  97.  106. 
cincinnatiella,  Phyllonoryter,  224. 
cincta,  Odontomyia,  LXVI. 
Cincticornia,  457.  462. 
cinctipes,  Halisidota,  170. 
cinctipes,  Podops,  114. 
cinctus,  Chion,  344- 
cinctus,  PseUiopus,  108. 
cinerea,  Epicauta,  392. 
cinerea,  Hetcemis,  354- 
cinerea,  Molanna,  SI,  XV. 
cinereOt  Piesma,  1 10. 
cinereocostella,  Despressaria,  221. 
cingulata,  Oncideres,  353* 
cingulaia,  Phlegethontius,  152. 
cingulata,  Rhagoletis,  276. 
cinnamoplerum,  Tetropium,  341. 
CioiD^,  324.  509- 
Circoteitix,  70. 
circumscriptella,  Mompha,  223. 

ClSTELID^,  380,  384- 

atheroma.  162,  164,  496. 

CitheroniD/E,  160. 

ct7ri,  Pseudococcus,  92. 

citrina,  Cecidomyia,  470. 

citripennella,  Tischeria,  226. 

Cladius,  410. 

ClcBOtus,  328. 

clandestina,  Noctua,  172,  LI. 

Class,  5. 

Claudia,     Euptoieta,     117.     486, 

XXVIII. 
clavata,  Coptocycla,  378. 
clavatus,  Mydas,  LXVII. 
Clavicorns,  The,  280,  293- 
clavipes,  Bittacomorpha,  236. 
clavipes,  Cucujus,  299- 
Clavula,  Callirhytis,  464. 
clavula,  Lasioptera,  470. 
clavidn,  Lasioptera,  470. 
Clerid^,  318,  501. 
Click  Beetles,  306. 
Cb'siocampa,  191. 
Clisodon,  5 IS- 


535 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


clivicollis,  Labioderma,  369. 
Clivina,  286. 
Clothes-louse,  79. 
Clothes-moths,  226. 
Clover-hay  Worm,  210. 
Clover-leaf  Beetle,  400. 
Clubionid^,  36. 
Cluster-flies,  271. 
clymene,  Haploa,  168,  XLIX. 
clypeata,  Cerceris,  XCII. 
Clypeus,  417. 
Clytanthus,  349. 
Clythrini,  365,  366, 
Clytini,  341,  346. 
c-nigrum,  Nociua,  172,  LI. 
coarctata,  Ponera,  418. 
Coccid,  XXIV. 

COCCID^,  81,  91. 

coccidivora,       Lcetilia,  212. 

CocciN^,  92. 

coccinea,      Graphocephala,      86, 

XXIII. 
Coccinella,  499, 

LXXV. 

COCCINELLID/E,      90,      297,      499, 
507. 

Coccus,  91. 
Cochineal  Insect,  91. 
CocHLiDiiDiE,  200. 
Cockchafers.  330. 
Cocoon,  116. 
Codling-moth,  212,  216. 
ccelebs,  Amphibolips,  462. 
Ccelioxys,  446.  518,  521. 
coenia,       Jiinonia,       126,       487. 

XXXI. 
coeruleans.  Ckrysis,  XC. 
cceruleus,  Encyclops,  340. 
Colas  pis,  368. 
Coleophora,  222. 
COLEOPTERA,    2,    280.   479- 

482,  498. 
Colias,  137,  491. 
collaris,  Elater,  309. 
collaris,  Lema,  365. 
collaris,  Leptostylus,  357. 
collaris,  Stenispa,  375. 
COLLEMBOLA.  39,  40. 
Colleies,  446,  512,  517. 
C0LLETID.E,  445,  512,  517. 
Collops.  318. 
colon,  Omosita,  305. 
colonus.  Xylotrechus,  348. 
Colopha,  456,  466. 
Colorado  Potato  Beetle,  369. 
columba,  Tremex,  411, 

LXXXVII. 
Columbia,  Samia,  156. 
CoLYDiiD^,  299,  300,  508. 
Colymbetes,  290. 

comma,  Grapta,  122,  487,  XXX. 
Comma,  Gray,  122. 
communis,      Melanotus,        309, 

LXXVII. 
communis,      Vespa,     430,     511, 

j^  (_^, 
compactus,  Colleies,  XCIII. 
comptana,  Ancylis,  219. 


Compton  Tortoise,  124. 
comptoniella,  Acrobasis,  213. 
comyntas,     Lyccena,     133,     400 

xxxiii.  "^    ^^  ■ 

concavus,  Cyrtophyllus,  72. 
concinna,  Schizura,  185,  LV. 
concolor,  Cupes,  323. 
concolor,  Saperda.  359. 
concumbens,  Catocala,  181,  LIV. 
confinis,  Chcetocnema,     373. 
confluentus,  Amphibolips,  462 
confusa,  Atimia,  340. 
confusor,  Monohammus,  354. 
confusum,         Tribolium,        382. 

LXXXIV. 
conglomeratella,       Phyllonoryter, 

224. 
coniferarum,  Lapara,  153. 
CONIOPTERYGID^,  54. 
connecta,  Saperda,  359. 
Conniption-bug,  53. 
Conocephalus,  72,  XX. 
CoNOPiD^,  235.  257,  275- 
Conorhinus,  107. 
Conotrachelus,  402. 
consobrina,  Vespa,  430,  511. 
consors,  Pontania,  460. 
conspersa,  Chlcealtis,  69. 
conspicuella,  Ornix,  226. 
constans,  Ceresa,  484. 
Contarinia,  242,  457.  472. 
convergens,  Hippodamia,  LXXV. 
Cooties,  483. 
Copper,  American,  133. 
Copper,  The  Bronze,  133. 
Coppers,  The,  131. 
COPRIN^,  326. 
Coprini,  328. 
Copris,  328. 
Coptocycla,  377, 
Coptodisca,  223. 
coquus,  Tragidion,  346, 
cora^.  Pontes,  144,  XXXVII. 
Corbicula,  453. 
CORDULIN^,  48. 
COREID^,  98,   112,    113. 
CORETHRID^,  241. 
CORIMEL^NID^,  98. 

Coriscus,  98. 
Corium,  95. 
Corixa,  99. 
CORIXID/E,  96,  99. 
Corn  bill-bugs,  403. 
Corn-borer,  European,  497. 
Corn  Ear- worm,  178. 
cornifoliella,  Antispila,  223. 
cornigerus,  Callirhytis,  464. 
Corn-root  aj,;his  90. 
cornut'j,  Coryd~lis.  53,'#CIII. 
cornM/u5.Pc55o7M5.326,LXXIX. 
CORRODEXTIA,    2.    76,    478. 

482. 
cortialis,  Tenebrioides,  305. 
Corticaria.  305. 
corticola,  Boletophagus,  384. 
CORYDALIDiE,  52. 
Corydalis,  52,  53.  481. 
corylifoUella,  Coleophora,  222. 


536 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


corylifoliella,  Stigmella,  224. 
coryliseUa,,  Phyllonoryter,  225. 
coryloides,  Schizomyia,  470. 
CORYLOPHID/E,  297,  507. 

Corymbites,  309. 
Corymbitini,  309. 
Corythuca,  no. 
CoscinopLera,  365. 
CossiDiE,  202. 

CoSSONINiE,  398. 

Cossonus,  398. 

Costal  cell,  229,  269. 

Costal  vein,  229,  269,  406. 

costalis,  Hypsopygia,  210. 

Cotalpa,  332. 

Cotton  Boll- worm,  178. 

Cotton-boll  Weevil,  401. 

Cottony  Cushion  Scale,  in. 

Cottony  Scale,  93,  212. 

Cotton-stainer,  in. 

Cottonwood-borer,  360. 

"  Cow  sheds,"  420. 

Coxa,  8. 

Crab-louse,  79. 

Crabro,  435,  XCII. 

crabro,  Vespa,  430,  511,  XC. 

Crabs,  32. 

Crab-spider,  36. 

Crabronid^,  432,  434. 

Crambin^,  210. 

Crambus,  210. 

Cranberry  Fire- worm,  219. 

Cranberry  Fruit- worm,  212. 

Cranberry  Vine- worm,  219. 

Crane-flies,  112,  236. 

Craponius,  402. 

crassipes,  Apiomerus,  107. 

cratcegifolia,  Hormomyia,  468. 

cratcBgifoliella,  Ornix,  225. 

Crawler,  53. 

Crayfish,  32. 

Cretnastochilus,  334. 

Cremastogaster,  418,  420. 

Creophilus,  297. 

Crepidodera,  373.  374. 

Crescent,  Pearl,  119. 

Crescent,  Silver,  119. 

cresphontes,  Papilio,  138,  491,  I. 

Cressonia,  153,  495. 

cretata,  Saperda,  360. 

Crickets,  73,  74,  438. 

Criocephalus,  341. 

Criocerini,  363,  364. 

Crioceris,  364,  365. 

crisp ata,  Megalopyge,  201. 

cristatus,  Arilus,  108,  XXV. 

cristifasciella,  Paralechia,  221. 

Croton-bug,  64. 

cruentatus,  Rhynchophorus,  403. 

Crustacea,  32. 

Cryptocephalini,  365,  366. 

Cryptocephalus,  366. 

CRYPTOPHAGIDiE,  3OO,  50S,  508. 

Ctenocephalus,  279. 
Ctenucha,  164. 
Cubital  cell,  406, 
Cubital  veins,  406. 
Cuckoo-bees,  4391  442. 


Cuckoo  wasps,  424. 
CucuiiD.^,   299,  300,   SOI,  SOS 

508. 
cucujiforyne,  Smodicum,  341. 
Cucujus,  299. 
cucumeris,  Epitrix,  374. 
cucurbila,  Pachypsylla,  466. 
Culex,  238,  LXIV. 

CULICID^,  232,  238. 

Culicoides,  241. 

cunea,  Hyphanlria,  168,  L. 

Cuneus,  95. 

Cupes,  323. 

CuPESiD^,  323. 

cupripennis,  Platynus,  LXXIII, 

CURCULIONID^,  393,  394,  395, 
CURCULIONIN^,  398,  400. 

Currant- worm,  276,  410. 
Currant  Span-worm,  195. 
curtipennis,  Chorthippus,  69. 
curvispinosus,  Leptothorax,  421. 
cuscuiceformis,  Diastrophus,  468. 
Cuterebra,  260. 
Cut-worms,  172.  175. 
cyanana,  Olethreutes,  218. 
cyanea,  Gastroidea,  368. 
cyaneum,  Chlorion,  438. 
cyanipennis,  Gaurotes,  350. 
cybele,      Argynnis,      118,      486, 

XXVIII. 
Cybister,  292. 
Cychrus,  284. 
Cyclocephata,  332. 
Cyclorrhapha,  230,  253. 
Cycnia,  169. 
Cydia,  219. 
Cydnid^,  98. 
Cydnin^,  114. 
cylindrica,  S  ph(Brophoria, 

LXVIII. 
cylindricollis,  Toxotus,  349. 
Cylindrotoma,  236. 
Cyllene,  346. 
Cymatophora,  195. 
Cymolomia,  218. 
Cynipid^,  414,  457- 
Cynipoidea,  407,  414,  522. 
Cynips,  457,  462,  464. 
cynipsea,  Caryomyia,  460. 
Cynomyia,  266,  267,  270. 
Cynthia,    Philosamia,    153,    495, 

XL. 
Cyrtid^,  233,  248. 
Cyrtinini,  352. 
Cyrtinus,  352. 
Cyrtophorus,  349. 
Cyrtophyllus,  72. 

Dactylopin^,  92. 
Daddy-long-legs,  32,  236. 
daeckeana,  Olethreutes,  218. 
Dagger-moths,  172. 
dama,  Lucanus,  325,  LXXIX. 
damnifica,  Schistocerca,  70. 
damon,       Thecla,       131,       480, 

XXXIII. 
Damsel-bugs,  98. 
Damsel-flies,  42,  44.  478. 


537 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


Danais,  Ii6,  486. 

Dance  Flies,  252. 

Dancing  insects,  42,  241,  252. 

Darkling  Beetles,  381. 

Darning-needles,  42. 

Dascyllid^,  306,  509. 

dasycerus,  Ecyrus,  359. 

Dasyllis,  250. 

Dasymutilla,  428. 

Dasyneura,  242,  457,  460,  472. 

Datana,  184. 

daunus,  Papilio,  142. 

Death-watch,  78,  322. 

debilis.  Goes,  355. 

Debis,  128,  488. 

decimlineata,   Leptinotarsa,   369, 

LXXXIII. 
decidua,  Cynips,  462. 
decipiens,  Acanthoderes,  355. 
decolorata,  Centrodera,  350. 
decora,  Galerucella,  371. 
decoriis,  Cyllene,  346. 
Dectes,  357. 
Deer  Flies,  247. 
Deilephila,  148,  493. 
rfe/jc,  Terias,  138. 
Deltoids,  184. 
demotella,  Acrobasis,  213. 
Dendroides,  387. 
dentipes,  Chrysobothris,  313. 
deplanata.  Phylloxera,  460. 
depressa.  Phylloxera,  460. 
depressus,  Boletophagus,  384. 
depressus,      Pasimachus,       285, 

LXXII. 
derhami,  Tegenaria,  38. 
Dermacentor,  476. 
DERMAPTERA,2,.6i,479,48i. 
Dermatophilid^,  279. 
Dermatophilus,  279. 
Dermestes,  302. 
DermestidvE,  302,  503. 
Derodontid^,  306,  508. 
descripta,  Castianeira,  36. 
desertana,  Eucosma,  219. 
Desmia,  208. 
Desmocerini,  339. 
Desmocerus,  339. 
desmodioides,  Pontania,  460. 
Despressaria,  221. 
destructor,  Mayetiola,  242,  LXV. 
devastatrix,  Hadena,  175,  LI. 
Devil's  Rearhorse,  65. 
DEXIID.E,  258,  260. 
diabolica,  Vespa,  430,  511. 
Diabrotica,  371. 
Diachlorus,  248. 
Diacrisia,  169. 
Diadasia,  515. 
diadema,  Sinea,  108. 
Dialictus,  521. 
diana,  Azgynnis,  118. 
Dianthimum,  446,  518. 
Diaperis,  384. 
Diaphania,  209. 
Diapheromera,  65. 
DlASPlN^,  92,  93. 
Diastrophus,  457,  468. 


Dibolia,  373. 

DiccBlus,  287. 

Dicer ca,  312,  313. 

dueros,  Ceresa,  484. 

Dichelonycha,  330,  331. 

dichlocerus,  Rhodites,  468. 

Dicromorpha,  69. 

Dictyna,  34. 

DiCTYNiD^,  34. 

Didea,  255. 

difficilis  consocians,Formica,42Z. 

diffinis,  Hemaris,  147. 

Dilophonota,  152. 

dimidiata,  Cceniella,  316. 

dimidiatus,  Phymatodes,  342. 

Dineutes,  293. 

Dione,  117,  486. 

DlOPSID^,  278. 

Dfox3'5.  518. 

Diphadnus,  410. 

DIPLOPODA,  32,38. 

Diplosis,  242. 

Diplotaxis,  330. 

Diprion,  410. 

DIPTERA,    2,    229,    457,    477. 

479,  480,  482. 
dipterum,  Chloeon,  40. 
directa,  Acmceops,  350. 
Discal  cell,  229,  269. 
discalis,  Stratiomyia,  LXV. 
Discoidal  cell,  406. 
Discoidal  vein,  406. 
discoidea,  Adelocera,  309. 
discoidea,  Saperda,  360. 
discoideus,  Elaier,  309. 
discolor,  Dineutes,  293. 
Disease-carrying  Fly,  264. 
Disease-fly,  278. 
Disholcaspis,  457,  464. 
disippus,  Basilarchia,  127. 
Disonycha,  372. 
dispar,  Porthetria,  188,  LVI. 
Dissosteira,  69,  70. 
disstria    Malacosoma,   191,  1921 

Lvn. 

Distenia,  339. 
Disteniini,  339. 
distincta,  Larropsis,  437. 
divaricata,     Dicerca,    312,    313, 

LXXVIII. 
divinatorius.  Trades,  78. 
DixiD^,  232,  236. 
Dobson-fly,  53,  477. 
Dodgers,  86. 
Dog-face,  137. 
Dog-flea,  279. 
Dolba,  153. 
Dolerus,  410. 

DOLICHODERIN^,  417. 
Dolichoderus,  417,  421. 

DOLICHOPODID^,  230,  23s,   250. 

Dolichovespula,  511. 
domestica,  Lepisvia,  39,  VIII. 
domestica,  Musca,  263,  265,  267. 

268,  271,  LXX. 
domesticus,  Gryllus,  74- 
dominicana,  Coscinoptera,  365. 
domitia,  Perithemis,  48,  X. 


538 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


Donacia,  363.  364.^ 

Donaciini,  363- 

donaius,  Triepeolus,  XCIII. 

Dorcaschema,  352,  354. 

Dorcus,  325. 

dorsalis,  Chalepus,  37s. 

dorsalis,    Cicindela,    282,     499, 

LXXII. 
dorsisignatana,  Eucosma,  218. 
Dorso-central,  230. 
DoRYLiN^,  418. 
Dragon-flies,  42,  45,  478. 
Drake,  Gray,  42. 
Drilin^,  315.  318. 
Drone  Flies,  257. 
Drosophila,  265,  276. 
Drosophilida:,  27s.  276. 
Drug-store  Beetle,  321. 
drupiferarum,      Hyloicus,      I53. 

495. 
druryi     egeremet,     Catia,      I44t 

XXXVII. 
dryas,  Grapta,  122. 
Dryinid^,  425.  427. 
Dryobius,  344. 
Dryocampa,  162,  496. 
Dryophanta,  457.  462. 
dubitata,  Coelioxys,  XCIII. 
Dufourea,  521. 
Dufourid^,  442. 
Duns,  57- 

duodecim-punctata,  Crioceris,zos- 
duodecim-punctata,      Diabrotica, 

371.LXXXIII. 
dupla,  Ceratina,  XCIII. 
duricaria,  Disholcaspis,  464- 
Dynastes,  333. 

DVNASTIN^,  332. 

Dyschirius,  286. 
Dyscinetus,  332. 
Dysdercus,  iii. 
Dytiscid/E,  288,  289.  293.  505, 

506. 
Dytiscus,  289,  290,  292,  LXXIV. 

Eacles,  164. 

Ear,  7.  66,  71.  73. 

Ear  Flies,  247. 

Earwigs,  61,  479.  481. 

ebenus,  Heterachthes,  344- 

Eburia,  344. 

Ecdytolopha,  219. 

ecostata,  Pyractomena,  316. 

Ecyrus,  359- 

egeremet,  catia,  144. 

^gZe,  Euchcetias,  169,  XLIX. 

eglenensis,    PareuchcBtes,  169. 

ELACHISTIDiE,  222. 

Elaphidion,  345- 
Elaphrus,  285,  499- 
elaphus,  Lucanus,  325- 
Elater,  309. 

Elaterid^,  306,  382,  502. 
Elaterini,  309- 
elathea,  Terias,  138. 
Electric-light  Bugs,  99. 
elegans,  Calligrapha,  370. 
Eleodes,  381. 


Elephant  Bugs,  403. 
elevatus,  Cychrus,  LXXII. 
EliiN/E,  427. 
£/t5,  427. 

elisa,  Celiihemis,  50. 
«//o,  Dilophonota,  152. 
Ellychnia,  316. 
Elm-borer,  360. 
Elm-leaf  Beetle,  370. 
eloisella,  Mompha,  223. 
elongatus,  Dicculus,  287,  LXXIL 
Elytra,  280. 

emarginaia,  Leptura,  3SI- 
emarginata,  Notoglossa,  434- 
emarginatuf!,  Dineutes,  293. 
EMBIIDINA.  478. 
emersoni,  Leptothorax,  421. 
Emesa,  108. 
Emesid^e,  97.  108. 
Emphor,  444.  SiS- 
EMPHORiDiE,  444. 
Emphoropsis,  SiS- 
Empidid/E,  233.  235.  252. 
Em  pis,  252. 
Enarmonia,  219. 

F.nchenopa,  483. 
Encoptolophus,  70. 

Encyclopini,  340. 

Encyclops,  340- 

Endelomyia,  410. 

Endomychid^.  299.  S07. 

Engraver  Beetles.  404. 

Ennomos,  196. 

Entylia,  484.  XXIII. 

Epalpus,  262. 

Epargyreus.  I43.  492. 

Epeira,  34. 

Epeiridse,  32. 

Epeolus,  442,  512,  S16. 

Ephemera,  42.  VIII. 

ephemerceformis.      Thyridoperyx, 
198,  201,  LIX. 

Ephemerid^,  2,  40. 

Ephestia,  212. 

Ephydrid^,  278. 

EpicBSchna,  46. 

EpiccBTUs,  399. 

Epicauta,  387.  39i.  392. 

Epicordulia,  48.  w,^ 

Epilachna,  299.  499.  LXXV. 

epimensis,  Psychomorpha,  214. 

Episimus,  219. 

Epitrix,  372,  373.  374- 

Epizeiixis,  184. 

Epochra,  276. 

eponina,  Celithemis,  50,  XII. 

egwt,  Gastrophilus,  259- 

equinus,  Borborus,  265. 

Erax,  250. 

Erebus,  182. 

eremicola,  Osmoderma,  335- 

eremitus,  Hyloicus,  IS3.  495. 

erinacei,  Acraspis,  462. 

Eriophyes,  4S6,  470,  472. 

Eristalis,  256,  278. 

Eritettix,  68. 

£r05,   316.  xrvTTT 

eroja,  Phytnata,  no,  XX VL 


539 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


EROTYLIDiE,  299,  507. 
errabunda,  Ploiariola.  108. 
Erycinid^,ii6,I30,i3i,i34.489. 
Erynnis,  144. 
Erythraspides,  410. 
erythrocephala,   Calliphora,    265, 

267,  272. 
erythrocephalus,  Neoclytus,  348. 
Estigmene,  168. 
Euaresta,  275. 
eubule,  Catopsilia,  137,  491. 
Eucerceris,  435. 
EucERiD^,  444. 
EuchcBtias,  169. 
Euchloe,  137,  490. 
Euclea,  200. 

EUCNEMIN^,  306,  308. 

Eucosma,  218,  457,  472. 
Eudamus,  144,  492. 
Euderces,  349. 
Eulecanium,  93. 
Eulia,  220. 
Eumenes,  428,  429. 

EUMENID^,  426,  428. 
Eumeyrickia,  221. 
Eumolpini,  366. 
Eupartus,  395. 
Euparthenos,  182. 
Euphoria,  334. 
EUPLEXOPTERA,  61. 

EUPLCEIN/E,  116. 

Eupogonius,  358,  359- 

Euproctis,  190, 

Eupsalis,  394. 

Euptoieta,  117,  486. 

European  Corn-borer,  497. 

Eurosta,  457,  472. 

Eurymycter,  395. 

Euryopthalmus,  in. 

eury theme,  Colias,  137,  491. 

eMry/M5,        Neonympha,         128, 

488.  XXXII. 
Euschistus,  114. 
Euthochtha,  113. 
Euura,  410,  457,  458. 
Euxoa,  172. 
Euzophera,  214. 
Evania,  411,  511. 

EvANIIDiE,  411. 

evecta,  Volucella,  256,  LXVI. 

exc(Bcaus,  Calasymbolus,  152,  494. 

Exema,  366. 

exigua,  Anaxipha,  76. 

exigua,  Laphygtna,  175,  LI. 

exittosa,  Sanninoidea,  207,  208, 

LX. 
exolela,  Cymolomia,  218. 
Exotnalopsis,  512,  515,  521. 
Exoprosopa.  249. 
exsectoides,  Formica,  422,  423. 
externum,  Calosoma,  285. 
Eye,  8. 

fabricii,  Grapta,  120. 
facetus,  Lepturges,  358. 
False  gid,  260. 
False,  vein,  253. 
famelica,  Strangalia,  351. 


Family,  5. 

farinalts,  Pyrdlis,  210. 
farinosa,  Lasioptera,  468. 
fasciata,  Buprestts,  313. 
Jasciata,         Neurotoma,         410, 

LXXXVII. 
fasciata,  Stegomyia,  240. 
fasciata,  Volucella,  256. 
fasciatus,  Ceratophyllus,  279. 
fasciatus,  Eurymycter.  395. 
fasciatus,  Graphisurus,  356. 
fasciatus,  Oncopeltus,  112. 
fascipennis,  Exoprosopa,  LXVII. 
fasciventris,  Dyttscus.  290. 
faunus.  Grapta,  122,  487. 
fausta,  Rhagoletis,  270. 
favonius,  Thecla,  131. 
/ay/,  Saperda,  360. 
femorata,      Ckrysobothris,      310, 

313.  LXXVIII. 
femorata,  Diapheromera,  65. 
femoratus,  Pelecoris,  96. 
femoraius,  Tetraopes,  362. 
Femur,  8. 

femur-rubrum,  Melanoplus,  71. 
fenestralis,  Psinidia,  70. 
fenestralis,       Scenopinus,       240. 

LXVII. 
Feniseca,  132,  490. 
fernaldce,  Psithyrus,  449. 
ferruginea,  Corticaria,  305. 
ferruginea,  Epicauta,  392. 
ferrugineum,  Tribolium,  382. 
fervidana,  Archips,  219. 
fervidus,  Bombus,  451,  452. 
fervidus  dorsalis,  Bombus,  450. 
Fidia,  367. 
Fig-eater,  334. 
Filiform,  500. 
fimbriatus,         Tachinus,         297, 

LXXV. 
fimbriolatus,  Cybister,  292. 
fimetarius,  Aphodius,  329. 
Fire-brat,  39. 
Fire-bug,  114. 
Fire-flies,  314,  317. 
Fish-flies,  52. 
Fish-moth,  39. 

flammata,  Amphionycha,  361. 
Flannel-moth,  Crinkled,  201. 
Flappers,  240. 
Flat-bugs,  112. 
Flat-headed    Apple-tree    Borer, 

310. 
Flat-head  Borers,  310. 
flavicauda.  Tacky s,  286. 
flavipennis,     Rhipiphorus,    303. 

LXXXV. 
flavipes,  Leptogaster,  LXVII. 
flavipes,  Termes,  76,  XXI. 
Flax-seed,  242, 
Flea-beetles,  372. 
Fleas.  279,  480. 
Flesh  Flies,  262. 
fletcherella,  Coleophora ,  22  2  ,LXI, 
#f.ra,  Trttoxa,  275,  LXXI. 
Flies,  229,  477. 
flocci,  Andricus,  462. 


540 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


floccosus,  Neurolerus,  462. 
fioricola,  Chrysobothris,  313. 
floridana,  Emphoropsis,  515. 
Flour  Beetles,  382. 
Flour-moth,  212. 
Flower  Flies,  253. 
Footman  Moths,  166. 
ftorbesi,  Aspidiotus,  XXIV. 
forceps,  Scutigera,  38,  VII. 
Foresters,  170. 
Forficula,  61. 
Formica,  417,  422. 
F0RMICID.E,  415. 
FoRMicoiDEA,  407,  415. 
forticornis,  Biorhiza,  464. 
fossor,  Aphodius,  329. 
Four-lined  Leaf-bug,  105. 
Foveola,  68. 

fragilella,  Phyllonoryter,  225. 
fragarice,  Tyloderma,  403. 
fraternus,  Bombias,  451,  452. 
fraternus,  Eumenes,  428,  XC. 
fraxini,  Eriophyes,  472. 
fraxiniflora,  Eriophyes,  472. 
frigidum,  Calosoma,  285. 
Fritillary,  Great-Spangled,  ii7- 
Fritillary,  Gulf,  117. 
Fritillary,  Meadow,  118. 
Fritillary,  Regal,  117. 
Fritillary,  Silver-bordered,  118. 
Fritillary,  Variegated,  117. 
Frog-hoppers,  86. 
Front,  230. 

frontalis,  Photuris,  317. 
frontalis,  Psilotreta,  57. 
Frosted  Scale,  93. 
frugiperda,  Laphygma,  175,  LI. 
Fruit-fly,  276. 
Fruit-tree  Bark-beetle,  405. 
fucosa,         Hypoprepia,  166, 

XLVIII. 
fulgidus.  Euphoria,  334. 
Fulgora,  85,  XXIII. 

FULGORID^.  81,  85. 
fulminans,  Arhopalus,  347. 
fulvicollis.  Scepsis,  164,  XLVIII. 
fulvoguttata,  Melanophila,  313. 
fumans,  Brachinus,  LXXIII. 
funeralis,  Desmia,  208. 
fungivorella,  Aristotelia,  221. 
Fungus  Gnats,  242. 
Funiculus,  417. 
fur,  Plinus,  321,  LXXIX. 
furfura,  Chionaspis,  XXIV. 
fusca,  Formica,  423. 
fusca  subsericea,  Formica,   423, 

424. 
fusciceps,  Phorbia,  263. 
fuscilabris,  Megilla,  LXXV. 
fuscojubatus,  Emphor,  444. 
fusiformis,  Rhopalomyia,  472. 
futilis,  Callirhytis,  462. 

Gad  Flies,  247,  259. 
galeator,  Euthochtha,  113. 
Galerita,  287. 
Galerucella,  370. 
Galerucini,  363,  370. 


Galgulid/E,  95. 
Galgulus,  95,  102. 
gallcesolidaginis,  Gnorimoschemar 

219.  221.  472. 
gallcBSteriella,       Gnorimoschema, 

221. 
Galleria,  212. 
Galleriin^,  212. 
gallicola,  Podapion,  396. 
Galls,   221,   222,  243,  276,  278, 
^      312.455,522. 
Gaster,  417. 
Gaslroidea,  368. 
Gastrophilus,  259. 
Gaurotes,  350. 
Gelastocoris,  95,  102,  XXV. 
Gelastocorid^,  95,  96. 
Gelechia,  221. 
Gelechiid^,  220,  457. 
geminata,  Tillomorpha,  349. 
geminatus.    Sphinx,     150,    494, 

XXXIX. 
gemma,  Pachypsyla,  466. 
generosa,         Cicindela,         282, 

LXXIII. 
Geuiculate,  504. 
Genus,  5. 
genutia,      Euchloe,      137,      490, 

XXXIV. 

GEOMETRIDiE,  I92. 

Geometrin/E,  195. 

Georyssid/E,  306,  508. 

Geosargus,  247. 

Geotrupes,  329. 

Geotrupini,  329. 

germanica.  Blattella,  62,  XVI. 

germanica,  Vespa,  430,  511. 

Gerrid^e,  96,  103,  104. 

Gerris,  103,  104. 

Ghost-moth,  228. 

Giant  Water-bugs,  99. 

Gibbium,z22. 

glandulella,  Valentinia,  222. 

glaucus,      Papilio,      140,      491, 

XXXVI. 
globulus,  Dtsholcaspis,  464. 
globulus,  Rhodites,  468. 
gloriosa,  Protoxcea,  514. 
gloveri,  Samia,  156. 
Glow-worms,  314. 
Gnats,  229. 
Gnorimoschema,   219,   221,   457, 

472. 
Goat-moths,  202. 
Goes,  354.  355. 
Gold-bugs.  377. 
Goldsmith  Beetle,  332. 

GOMPHIN^,45. 

Gonaspis,  457,  468. 
Goniops,  248. 
Gooseberry  Saw-f!y,  410. 
Gooseberry  Worm,  276. 
gordius,  Hyloicus,  153. 
Gorytes,  433. 
Gorytid^,  433. 
Gossamer,  33. 
Gouty  Galls,  312. 
Gracilaria,  225. 


541 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


gracilis,  Hemaris,  147. 
gracilis,  Micrathena,  36,  VII. 
gracilis,  Oberea,  362. 
gracilis,  Pontania,  460. 
Grain-weevil,  300,  403. 
granaria,  Calandra,  404. 
Grandfather-graybeard,  32. 
grandis,  Anthonomus,  401. 
grandis,  Lebia,  287,  LXXIII. 
Grape  Curculio,  402. 
Grape  Flea-beetle,  373. 
Grape  Leaf-folder,  208. 
Grape-vine  Plume,  214. 
Graphisurus,  356. 
Graphocephala,  86, 
Grapkoliiha,  218. 
Graphomyia,  266,  270. 
Graphops,  367. 
Graphosomin^,  114. 
Grapta,  120,  122,  124,  487. 
Grasshoppers,  66,  71,  438,  479, 

482. 
Grass-nymphs,  128. 
Grass-spider,  248. 
Grave  Diggers,  436. 
Gray-back,  79. 
Gray  drake,  42. 
Green  Plies,  87. 
Green-headed  Monsters,  247. 
greenei,  Megarhyssa,  414. 
Green  Japanese  Beetle.  510. 
griseus,  Benacus,  100,  XXV. 
grossularicE,  Zophodia,  213. 
Ground-beetles,  282. 
Ground-pearls,  91. 
Grouse  Locusts,  66. 
Grub-in-the-head,  260. 
Grubs,  White,  172. 
Gryllid^,  71,  73. 
Gryllotalpa,  73. 
Gryllus,  73,  74,  XX. 
grynea,  Caiocala,  181,  LIV. 
guttea,  Ornix,  225. 
guUifinitella,  Phy Honor yter,  225. 
Gypsy  Moth,  188,  497,  510. 

GYRINIDiE,  288,  292,  293,  505. 

Gyrinus,  293,  481,  LXXIV. 

Hadena,  175. 
HcBmatobia,  266,  268. 
Hcematopinus,  79. 
Hoemotopota,  248. 
Hcemonia,  364. 
Hcemorrhagia,  147. 
hcemorrhoidalis,        Psilocephala, 

LXVII. 
hamorrhoidalis,  Sarcophaga, 

LXX. 
Hag-moth,  200. 
Hair-streaks,,  131 
Halesus,  57. 
halesus,  Thecla,  131. 
HALiCTiDiE,  440,  516,  517. 
Halictoides,  442,  520,  521. 
Halictus,  436,  440,  512,  517. 
HALiPLiDiE,  288,  289,  506. 
Halisidota,  170. 
Halteres,  229. 


Haltica,  372,  373. 

Halticini,  363,  372. 

H  alliens,  106. 

Ham-beetle,  Red-legged,  320. 

hamamelidis,  Hormaphis,  466. 

hamamelis,  Acronycta.  174. 

hamamelis,  Phyllonoryter,  225. 

Hamamelistes.  456,  466. 

Hammer-head,  310. 

Haploa,  168. 

Harlequin  Cabbage-bug,  114. 

Harlequin  caterpillar,  169. 

Harpalus,  288. 

harrisii,  Dytiscus.  290. 

harrisi,  Grapta,  122. 

harrisi,  Melilcea,  120,  487. 

Harrisina,  202. 

Harvester,  The,  132. 

Harvest-flies,  82. 

Harvest-man,  32. 

hastulifera,  Acronycta,  174. 

Hawk  Moth,  146 

Hazel-nut  Weevil,  401. 

Head-louse,  79, 

hebesana,  Olethreutes,  218. 

Hebrides,  96. 

Hebrus,  96. 

Hedgehog,  168. 

Hedychridium,  425. 

Hedychrum,  425. 

/reert      deptlis,      Brachymyrmex, 

421. 
Heliconiin,,^,  117. 
Heliconius,  117,  486. 
Helicopsyche,  57. 
Heliophtla,  175. 
Heliothis,  176,  178. 
Hell-diver;-devil,  53. 
Hellgrammite,  53. 
Helophilus,  256. 
Helophorini,  294. 
Helophorus,  294. 
Hemaris,  147,  203,  493. 
Hemerobiid,,e,  54,  56. 
Hemerocampa,  186,  497. 
hemidesma,  Olethreutes,  218. 
Hemihalictus,  521. 
HEMIPTERA,  2.  80,  95,  478- 

480,  482. 
hemipterus,  Carpophilus,  305. 
Hepialid^,  228. 
Hercostomus,  252. 
herculeanus  pennsylvanicus,Cam- 

ponolus,  424. 
Heriades,  446,  519. 
Hermetia,  247. 
heros,  Epiceschina,  46,  XI. 
Hesperia,  144,  492. 
HESPERiiDiE,  116,  142,  492. 
Hesperiin^,  143,  492. 
hesperius,  Metrobates,  104. 
Hesperotettix,  71. 
Hessian  Fly,  242. 
Hetcerina,  44. 
Heterachthes,  344. 
Heterocera,  115,  146. 
Heterocerid^,  306,  509. 
i    Heteromera,  281,  380,  505. 


542 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


Heteroneurid/e,  278. 
HETEROPTERA.    2,    80,    95. 
Hetcsmis,  354. 
hexadactyla,  Orneodes,  215. 
Hexapoda,  32. 
Hickory  Horned  Devil,  162. 
Hickory-nut  Weevil,  401. 
hieroglyphica.  Cicada,  84,  XXII. 
hieroglyphicus,  Corymbites,  309, 

LXXVII. 
Hilar  a,  252. 
Hippiscus,  70. 
HiPPOBOSciDiE,  279. 
Hippodamta,  499,  LXXV. 
Hippopsini,  353. 
Hippopsis,  353. 
hirticollis,  Cicindela,  282. 
hirtipes,  Rhopalomyia,  472. 
hirundinis,  CEciacus,  106. 
Hispini,  375. 
Hister,  304. 
HiSTERiD^,  304,  504. 
histrionica,      Murgantia,       114, 

XXVI. 
Hive-bees,  453. 
hohomok,  Atrytone,  146, 

XXXVII. 
Holcaspis,  457. 
holotricha,  Caryotnyia,  460. 
Homalomyia,  263,  265. 
HOMOPTERA,  2,  So,  456.  477. 

479. 
Honey,  429,  440. 
Honey-ants,  421. 
Honey-bee.  257,  440,  453.  5I2. 
Honey-dew,  84,  86,  88,  91,  93, 

420,  484. 
Hoplia,  330,  331. 
Hoplosia,  359. 
Hop-merchants,  122. 
horatius,  Thanaos,  492. 
Horiini,  391. 
Hormaphis,  456,  466. 
Hormomyia,  457,  460,  468. 
Horn-blowers,  150. 
Horned  Devil,  162. 
Hornets,  425,  429. 
Horn-fly,  268. 
Hornia.  391. 
Horn-tails,  411. 
Horse  Bot  Fly,  259. 
Horse  Flies,  247. 
Horseshoe  Crab,  32. 
Horse-stingers,  42. 
House-flies,  264. 
House-fly,  Bitinp.  268. 
House-fly,  Comnnc-    264,  271. 
House-fly,  Lesser,  261. 
hudsonias,  Systera,  374. 
Human-flea,  279. 
Humble-bee,  448. 
humeralis,  Purpuricenus,  346. 
humeralis,  Thecesternus,  398. 
Humming-bird  Moths,  147. 
humuli,  Hypena,  184. 
huntera,     Pyrameis,     124,     488, 

XXXI. 
Hunter's  Butterfly,  124. 


hyalina.  Pontania,  460. 
hyalinata,  Diaphania,  209. 
hybridus,  Dytiscus,  290. 
Hydria,  195. 
Hydrobatid^,  103. 
Hydrobiini,  294. 
Hydrocharis,  294. 
f  Hydrochus,  294 
Hydrcecia,  176. 
Hydromelra,  104. 
Hydrometrid^,  96,  103,  104. 
Hydrophilid^,  293,  505. 
Hydrophilini,  294. 
Hydropkilus.  293,  294,  LXXIV. 
Hydrophorus,  252. 
Hydropsyche,  58,  XV. 
Hydropsychid^,  60, 
Hydroptilid^,  60. 
Hydroscaphid^,  507. 
Hygrotrechus,  103. 
HyL/EId^,  445. 
HylcBus,  445. 
hyloeus,  Dolba,  153. 
Hylephila,  144. 
Hyloicus,  153,  495- 
Hylotrupes,  342. 
HYMENOPTERA.  2,  406,  457. 

478,  479,  481. 
Hypena,  184. 
Hypenid/E,  184. 
Hypera,  400. 
hyperboreus,  Platychirus, 

LXVIII. 
Hyperchiria,  160. 
Hyperodes,  400. 
Hyperplatys,  3 5 8. 
Hyphantria,  168. 
Hypoderma,  260. 
hypophlcBus,  Chrysophanus,  I33. 

490,  XXXIII. 
Hypopleura,  258. 
Hypoprepia,  166. 
Hypsopygia,  210. 

Ibalia,  412,  414. 
icelus,  Thanaos,  143. 
ichneumonea,  Chlorion,  XCII. 
ichneumoneum,  Ammobia,  439- 

ICHNEUMONIDyE,  412. 
ICHNEUMONOIDEA,        407.       41  If 
510. 

idalia,      Argynnis,      117.     486, 

XXVIII. 
ignita,  Haltica,  373- 
ignota,  Rhodites,  468. 
ilicifolicE,  Amphibolips,  462. 
imbricatus,  Epicarus,  399- 
imbricornis,  Prionus,  338. 
imitans,  Saperda,  360. 
immaculata ,  Pieris,  134. 
imparts,  Prenolepis,  421. 
impatiens,    Bombus,    450,    453. 

XCIV. 
impatienti folia,  Lasiopier a,  4T0. 
impatientis,  Cecidomyia,  470. 
Imperial  Moth,  164. 
imperialis,   Basilona,    164,    496, 

XLVII. 


543 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


impressus,  Meloe,  390. 
inaqualis,  Craponius,  402. 
incBQuatis,  Silpha,  296. 
inanis,  Amphibolips,  462. 
incertum,  Elaphidion,  345. 
Inch-worms,  194. 
inda.  Euphoria,  334. 
indentanus,  Phthinolophus,  219. 
Indian-meal  Moth.  213. 
indiginella,  Mineola,  212. 
inguinalis,  Phthirius,  79,  XXI. 
inimicella ,  Pseudogalleria,  218. 
innocuella,  Anacampsis,  221. 
innumerabilis,  Pulvinaria,  92. 
Inocellia,  478. 
inopinatus,  Euchatias,  169. 
iitopis,  Retinodiplosis,  458. 
inornata,  Mecas,  361. 
inornatana,  Cymolomia,  218. 
insectella,  Setomorpha,  226. 
insiticiana,  Ecdytolopha,  219. 
insularis,  Psithyrus,  449. 
integer,  Janus,  410. 
integerrina,  Datana,  185. 
Integra,  Formica,  423,  424. 
Interalar  band,  449. 
intermedia,  Deilephila,  148. 
intermedins,  Prodoxus,  228. 
inter punctella,  Plodia,  213. 
ititerrogationis,       Grapta,       120. 

487.  XXX. 
interrupta,  Arctocoria,  XXV. 
interrupta,  Lina,  368. 
interrupta,  Phryganea,  57,  2CV. 
«o,  Automeris,  160,  496,  XLV. 
ioZe,  Nathalis,  138,  491. 
Ipin^,  404,  405. 
ipomoecB  Cemolobus,  445. 
7^5.  304. 
irritans,    Hamatobia,    266,    268, 

LXIX. 
irritans,  Pulex,  279,  LJCXI, 
isabella,  Isia,  168,  XLIX. 
Ischnoptera,  64. 
/5/a,  168. 
Isodontia,  438. 
ISOPTERA.      76,      478.      479, 

482. 
Isosoma,  414. 
Ithycerin^,  396. 
Ithycerus,  396. 
Itonida,  457,  458. 
Itonidid^,  232,  242,  457. 

j-album,  Vanessa,  124,  487. 

Jalysus,  112. 

jamaicensis  geminatus.   Sphinx, 

ISO.  494. 
janthinum.  Callidium,  342. 
Janus,  410. 
janus,  Galeriia,  287. 
Japanese  Beetle.  510. 
aponica,  Popillia,  510. 
jasminearum,       Chlanogramma, 

153.  495- 
jASSIDiE,  86. 
jASSINiE,  81. 

Jerusalem  Cricket,  73. 


Jigger,  279. 
Jigger-flea,  279. 
Joint-worms,  414. 
jorulla,  Rothschildia,  154. 
jucunda,  Terias,  138. 
juglandifoliella,  Stigmella,  224. 
juglandis,  Cressonia,  153,  495. 
Jumping-beans,  218. 
Jumping-beetles,  372. 
Jumping  Spiders,  38. 
juncta,  Leptinotarsa,  369. 
juncticiliana,  Eucosma,  218. 
June  Bugs,  326,  330. 
juniperella,  Recurvaria,  221. 
^MniM^,  A«fla:,  46,  IX. 
Junonia,  126,  487. 
juvenalis,     Thanaos,     144,     49a. 
XXXVII. 

kalmicB,  Hyloicus,  153,  495. 

kalmiella.  Or  nix,  225. 

kalmii,  Lygceus,  112,  XXVI. 

Katydid,  72. 

kearfottella,  Phyllonoryter,  244, 

Kermes,  92. 

Key,  How  to  use,  27. 

King  Crab,  32. 

Kissing  Bugs,  107. 

kuehntella,  Ephestia,  212. 

Labella,  252,  266. 

Labia,  61. 

Labioderma,  369. 

Labium,  8. 

laboriosus,  Psithyrus,  449,  452. 

Labrum,  417. 

lacca,  Carteria,  91. 

Lace-bugs,  no. 

Lachnosterna,  331. 

Lacosomid^,  199. 

ladon,       Lyccena,       134,       490, 

XXXIII. 
Lady-beetle,  298,  499. 
Lady-bird,  298. 
Lcettlia,  212. 
/ffiz'f5,  Canthon,  LXXX. 
Lagriid/E,  380,  384. 
Lamellicornia,  281,  324. 
Lamiin^,  337,  352. 

LAMPVRIDiE,  314,  315,  503. 

Lampyrin^,  315,  316. 

Lampyrini,  316. 

lana,  Andricus,  462. 

Languria,  508. 

lanigera,  Cotalpa,  332,  LXXXI. 

lanigera,  Schizoneura,  88,  XXIV. 

Lantern-flies,  85. 

lanternaria,  Fulgora,  85. 

Lapara,  153. 

lapella,  Metzneria,  220. 

Laphygma,  175. 

lardarius,         Dermestes,        302, 

LXXVL 
Larder-beetle,  302. 
Largus,  in. 

laricella,  Coleophora,  222. 
Larra,  437. 
L.\rrid^,  433,  436. 


544 


ENTOMOLOQICAL  INDEX. 


LarRIN^,436. 
Larropsis,  437- 
Larva,  7. 

Lasiocampid^,  iqi. 
Lasioderma,  322. 
lasiophthalmus,  Tabanus,LX\ . 
Lasioptera,  457.  468,  470,  472. 
Lassius,  88,417.  421. 
Laspeyresia,  219. 
lateralis.  Anthrax,  LXVI. 
lateralis.  Lycostc^mus,  315,  316. 
lateralis,  Saperda,  359- 
Lathridiid^,  305.  508. 
lattcollis,  Prionus,  338, 

LXXXII. 
latiferreana,  Mellisopus,  219. 
latipes,  Campylenchia,  483. 
Latreillimyia,  262. 
Latrodectus,  34. 
Lauxaniid^,  275- 
Leaf-chafers,  333- 
Leaf-crumplers,  212. 
Leaf-cutters,  447. 
Leaf-folder,  214. 
Leaf-hoppers,  86. 
Leaf-miners,  220,  223,  224,  22S. 

276,  278,  375. 
Leaf-rollers,  215. 
Leather-beetle,  302. 
Leather-jackets,  236. 
Lebia,  287. 
Lebiini,  284. 
lectularius,  Citnex,  106. 
leguminicola,  Dasyneura,  242. 
Lenta,  364.  365.  392. 
lemniscata,  Hippopsis,  353- 
Lemoniid^.  130. 
lentella,  Phyllonoryter,  225. 
lenticularis,  Rhodites,  468. 
Leopard-moth,  202. 
lepida,  Cincindella,  499- 
LEPIDOPTERA,    2.    60,    115. 

457.  477.  479.  481.  482. 
Lepidosaphes,  94. 
Lepisma,  39. 
Leptid^,  230,  233,  248. 
Leptinid^,  506. 
Leptinotarsa,  362,  369. 
Leptis,  248. 
LEPTOCERID-.E,  60. 

Leptogaster,  250. 
Leptoglossus,  1 13. 
Leptostylus,  356,  357- 
Leptothorax,  418,  420,  421. 
Leptura,  351.  352. 
Lepturges,  358. 
Lepturini,  337.  340,  349- 
Lepturoides,  339. 
lespedezcefoiella,  Parectopa,  225. 
Lestes,  44.  IX. 
Lethocerus,  99.  lOO. 
Leucania,  175-  witt 

leucopterus,  Blissus,  iii,  XXVi. 
leucostigma,  Hemerocampa,  186, 

leucostoma,  Ophyra,  263,  205. 
Leucozona,  255. 
Libellula,  48. 


LlBELLULID^,  46. 
LiBELLULINiE,  48. 

Libythea,  130,  489. 
LiBYTHEINiE,  13O. 
Lice,  78,  79.  480. 
lignaria,  Osmia,  XCIII. 
ligneus,  Hylotrupes,  342. 
L1MACODID.E,  200. 
limata,  Blepharomastix,  209. 
limbatus,  Carabus,  284. 
Limenitis,  127. 
Limnobates,  104. 

LiMNOBATIDiE,  IO4. 

LIMNOPHILID.E,  58,  60. 
Limnoporus,  104. 
Limnotrechus,  103. 
limosipennella,  Coleophora,  222. 
Lina,  368. 
Linden-borer,  360. 
lineata,  Buprestis,  313- 
lineata,     Deilephila,     148,     493. 

XXXVIH. 
lineata,  Hydrometra,     104. 
lineata,  Hypoderma,  260. 
lineatum,  Rhagium,  350. 
lineatus,       Pacilocapsus,       lOS. 

XXV. 
lineola,  Leptura,  35 1- 
lineolata,     Cremastogaster,     420, 
LXXXIX. 

linteus,  Elater,  309. 

Liopus,  357.  358. 

LiPARiD^,  170,  186. 

liparops,  Thecla,  132. 

Lipeurus,  78. 

liriodendrana,  Polychrosis,  218. 

liriodendrella,  Phyllocnistis,  226. 

Ijriodendri,  Thecodiplosis,  466. 

i/5a,  Terias,  138,  49i.  XXXV. 

Listronotiis,  400. 

Lithocolletis,  224. 

LlTHOSIID^,  166. 

Lithurgus,  518. 

Lobster,  32. 

LOCUSTID.^,  71. 

LOCUSTIN/E,  70. 

Locusts,  66,  82. 

Locust,  Seventeen-year,  82. 

LONCHOPTERID^,  234- 

Long-horns,  337- 
Longicornes,  337- 
longicornis,  Diabrotica,  371. 
longipes,  Emesa,  no. 
longipes,  Melanophila,  313- 
longipes.  Rhopalophora,  341. 
Longitudinal  vein,  229,  269. 
Loopers,  i79.  i94. 
Loxostege,  209. 
Lubber  Grasshopper,  71. 
lubricalis,  Epizeuxis,  184,  LV. 
LuCANiD^,  324.  504- 
Lucanus,  325. 

lucetiella,  Phyllonoryter,  225. 
lucidicostella,  Phyllonoryter,  224. 
Lucidota,  316.  .^ 

lucidus,  Polycentropus,  58,  A  v. 
lucidus.  Polyergus,  424* 

LXXXIX. 


545 


ENTOAIOLOQICAL  INDEX. 


lucifluella,  Coptodisca,  223. 
Lucilia,  258,  265,  267,  268,  272. 
lucilius,      Thanaos,      143,      144, 

492. 
luctuosa,  Libellula,  48,  XII. 
lucublandus,    Pierostichus,    287, 

LXXII. 
lugens,  Mormidea,  114,  XXVI. 
lugubris,  Typocerus,  351. 
Luminous  insects,  243,  308,314. 
luna,  Actias,  158,  496,  XLIII. 
Luna  Motl^  158. 
lunata,  Calligrapha,  369. 
lunator,  Megarhyssa,  414. 
Lunule,  apical,  282. 
Lunule,  frontal,  230. 
Lunule,  humeral,  282. 
lupinella,  Anacampsis,  221. 
lusciliosa,  Hyloicus,  153. 
luscus,  Neodyius,  349. 
luteicornis,  Strangalia,  351. 
luteola,  Galerucella,  370, 

LXXXI 
luteola,  Nomada,  XCIV. 
Luteva,  108. 
Lycana,  133,  134,  490. 
LvCiENiD/E.  116,  131,  134,489. 
lycidas,  Achalarus,  144,  492. 
LvciNiE,  315. 
Lycomorpha,  164. 
Lycosa,  33,  VII. 
Lycosid^,  38. 
Lycostomus,  315,  316. 
Lyctid^,  323. 
Lyctus,  323. 

Lyg^id^,  98,  III,  112. 
Lygceus,  112. 
Lygzi^,  105,  435, 
Lymexylon,  324. 
Lymexylonid/E,  324,  509. 
Lyroda,  437. 

macellaria,  Chrysomyia,  266,  270, 

LXX. 
macer,  Systropus,  LXVII. 
Macrobasis,  391. 
macrocarpella,  Phyllonoryter, 

224. 
Macrocephalus,  no. 
Macrodactylus,  330,  331. 
MacroglossiN/E,  147. 

MACROPIDiE,  442. 
Macropis,  442,  521.         . 
Macros,  198. 
macrurum,  Ophion,  412, 

LXXXVin. 
mactans,  Latrodectus,  34. 
macula,  Lepiostylus,  357. 
maculata,  Calopteryx,  45,  X. 
maculata,  Diaperis,  384. 
maculata,  Craphomyia,  266,  270, 

LXIX. 
maculata,  Halisidota,  170. 
maculata,  Vespa,  430,  511,  XC, 

XCI. 
maculipennis.  Anopheles,  238. 
maculipennis,  Platycentropus, 57 , 

XV. 


maculipennis,  Plutella,  220. 
maculiventris,  Podisus,  XXVI. 
Maggots,  229. 
m.agnarius,        Ennomos,        196, 

LVIII. 
magnoliana,  Polychrosis,  218. 
magnus,  BrachyPeplus.  71. 
maidi-radicis,  Aphis,  90. 
major,  Bombylius,  LXVI. 
Malachiid^,  318,  509. 
Malacosoma,  168,  191,  192,497. 
m-album,  Thecla,  131. 
Malar  space,  449. 
Malaria,  238. 
ma/i.  Aphis,  88. 
malifoliella,  Tischeria,  226. 
malimalifoUella,      Phyllonoryter , 

225. 
malivorella,  Coleophora,  222. 
MALLOPHAGA,  2,  78,  480. 
Mamara,  226. 
Mamestra,  172. 
mamma,  Pachypsylla,  466. 
Mandibles,  8. 
M anomera,  65,  XVII. 
Mantid^,  64,  482. 
Mantis,  65. 
Mantispid^,  54. 
Mantura,  373. 
Maple-moth,  Rosy,  162. 
marcellus,  Papilio,  142,  491. 
March  Flies,  243. 
marcia,  Phyciodes,  119. 
Margarodes,  91. 
Margaropus,  476. 
Marginal  cell,  229,  269,  406. 
Marginal  vein,  229,  406. 
marginata,  Bembecia,  206,  207. 
marginata,         Epicauta,         392, 

LXXXV. 
marginata,  Mesogramma, 

LXVIII. 
marginatus,  Chauliognathus,  317. 
marginatus,  Cerris,  103,  104. 
marginatus,     Necrophorus,     295, 

LXXV. 
marginatus,  Spirobolus,  VII. 
marginellus,  Photinus,  316. 
marice,  Dolichoderus,  421. 
marioe,         Spilochalcis,         415, 

LXXXVIII. 
maritima,  Anisolabis,  61. 
maritima,  Satyrus,  130. 
maritima,  Trimerotropis,  70. 
marmorata,  Scirletica,  70. 
marmoreus,  Euparius,  395. 
Marsh-treaders,  104. 
martini,  Hydrometra,  104. 
Mar«mfea,  150. 
Masarid^,  426. 
Masked  Bed-bug  Hunter,  107. 
Masked  Bees,  445. 
Mason-bees,  447. 
mauretanica,    Tenebroides,    305- 

LXXVII. 
Maxillae,  8. 

May  Beetles,  326,  415,  427. 
Mayetiola,  242. 


546 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


May-flies,  40,  477,  478. 
Meadow-browns,  128. 
Meal  Snouth-moth,  210. 
Meal-worms,  382. 
Mealy-bugs,  91,  92. 
Measuring-worms,  179,  194. 
Mecas,  361. 

MECOPTERA,  2,  56,  478, 482. 
Mecostethus,  69. 
Mecynolarsus,  386. 
Medeterus,  252. 
Median  cell,  406. 
meditabunda,      Myospila,      265, 

266,  267.  270,  LXIX. 
Mediterranean  Flour-moth,  212. 
Megachile,  440,  447,  512,  518. 
Megachilid/E,  440,  446,  S18. 
Megacilissa,  512. 
MEGALOPTERA,  52,  54.  477, 

481. 
Megalopyge,  201. 

MeGALOPYGID^,  201. 

Meganostoma,  137,  491. 
Megarhyssa,  412.  LXXXVIII. 

MEGATHYMINiE,  I46. 
Megathymus,  146. 
Megilla.  499.  LXXV. 
Melanactes,  309. 
Melandryid^.  380.  381,  385. 
melanogaster,    Drosophila,    265, 

276,  LXX. 
Melanolestes,  107. 
Melanophila,  313. 
Mdanoplus,  66,  71,  387. 
Melanostoma,  255. 
Melanotui,  309. 
melaniira,         Nacerdes,         385, 

LXXXIV. 
melinus,       Thecla,      131,      489, 

XXXIII. 
Melissodes,  44s,  5 12,  515. 
Melitcza,  119,  120,  487. 
Melitara,  213. 
Melitoma,  444,  515. 
Melitta,  441. 
Melittia,  204. 
mellifera.     Apis,     453,     512, 

XCIII. 

MELLINIDiE,  432. 

Mellisopus,  219. 
melliius,  Necydalis,  339. 
mellonella,  Galleria,2i2,li'KI. 
Melo'e,  390. 
Meloid/E,  381,  387. 
Meloides,  387,  390. 
Meloin^,  390. 
Melolonthin^,  330, 
Melophagus,  279. 
Membracid^,  81,  84,  483. 
Membrane,  95. 
Memythrus,  204. 
Menopon,  78. 
M ermiria,  68. 
Merium,  342. 
Mesogramma,  255. 
Mesothorax,  8. 
Mesovelia,  97. 
Mesoveliid,*,  97.  103. 


messoria,  Euxoa,  172,  LI. 

Metachroma,  367. 

Metal-marks,  130. 

metallica,  Stenispa,  375. 

Metamorphosis,  6,  40. 

Metargiope,  36. 

Metatarsus,  8,  408. 

Metathorax,  8. 

Methini,  352. 

Methoca,  426. 

Methocid^,  426,  427. 

Metopina,  253. 

Metrobates,  104. 

Metzneria,  220. 

Miastor,  242. 

micans,      Morellia,     266,     271, 

LXIX. 
Micrathena,  36. 
Microbembex,  437. 
Microcentrus,  483. 
Microdon,  254. 
Micro-lepidoptera,  198,  220. 
microptera,  Romalea,  71. 

MiCROPTERYGIDiE,  228. 

Micropterygoidea,  228. 

Microrhopala,  375. 

Micros,  198. 

Midges,  241. 

milberti,  Vamssa,  124,487. 

Milesia,  256. 

Milliped,  32,  38. 

Milyas,  108. 

Mimicry,  127,  203,  250. 

Mineola,  212. 

Mine,  blotch,  223. 

Mine,  community,  224. 

Mine,  linear,  223. 

Mine,  serpentine,  223. 

Mine,  tentiform,  223. 

Mine,  tract,  223. 

Mine,  trumpet,  223. 

miniata,  Hypoprepia,  166. 

minimum,  Monomorium,  420. 

minimus,  Diasirophus,  468. 

ministra,  Datana,  185,  LV. 

minor.  Labia,  61,  XVI. 

minuta,  /iM^5a/j5,394.LXXXVI. 

minuta,  Peronea,  219. 

minutipennis,  Hornia,  391. 

minutus,  Copris,  329. 

Miranda,  36. 

MiRlDiE,  98.  105. 

Misumena,  36. 

Mites,  32,   III,   279.   456,   476, 

480. 
Mixogaster,  254. 
mixtus,  Pogonocherus,  359. 
modesta,  Cicindela,  282. 
modesta,  Pachvsphinx,  150,  493, 

494.  XXXIX. 
modestus,  Podabrus,  317. 
mcestum,  Asemum,  341. 
Molanna,  57. 
Mole  cricket,  73. 
molesta,  Solenopsis.  420. 
molitor,  Tenebrio,  382. 
Molorchus,  34s. 
Molt,  6. 


547 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


Mompha,  223. 
Monarch,  116. 
Monobia,  429. 

monodonia,  Microbembex,  437. 
Monohammini,  352,  353. 
Monohammus,  354. 
MoNOMMiD^,  505. 
M(onomorium,  418,  420. 
Mononyx,  95. 
Monophadnoides,  410. 
tnonostigma,  Tetrops,  362. 
MONOTOMID/E,  306,  508. 
Monoxia,  371. 
montinus,  Brenthis,  119. 
Monumetka,  519- 
monuste.  Pier  is,  136,  490 
Mordella,  386. 

MoRDELLiDiE,  381,  38St  393- 
Mordellistena,  385- 
Morellia,  266,  271. 
mori,  Bombyx,  192. 
Mormidea,  114. 
Mosquito,  229.  238,  480. 
Moth  Flies,  236. 
Moths,  115.  146.  477.  482. 
Mourning  Cloak,  122. 
mucronatum,  Elaphidion,  345. 
Mud-dauber,  436,  439. 
Mule-killer,  65. 
mulsanti,  Mesovelia,  97. 
multipunctata,  Calligrapha,  370. 
Murgantia,  114. 
tnuscBorum,  Anthrenus,  303. 
Musca,  263,  264,  265-268,  271. 
MusciD^,  258,  259.  264. 
Muscina,  258,  265,  267,  271- 
Mustard  White,  136. 
mutabilis,  Leptura,  35 1- 
mutica,  Saperda,  360. 
Mutilla,  428. 

MUTILLID/E,  426,  427. 
MvCETOPHAGIDiE,  300. 
MvcETOPHiLiDiE,  232,  242,  457 
MydaiD/E,  234.  250. 
Mydas,  250. 
Myiasis,  263. 
Myiochrysa,  247. 
Myiolepta,  2  54' 

MyODOCHID^,  III. 

Myodochus,  112. 

myops,  Alaus,  308. 

myops,  Calasymbolus,  152,  494« 

Myospila,  265-267,  270. 

tnyrina,      Brenthis,      118,      486, 

XXIX. 
Myrmecocystus,  421. 
Myrmeleonid/e,  S3.  54.  XIV. 
Myrmica,  420,  421. 
MyrmiciN/E,  418. 
Myywo50,  426. 
Myrmosid^,  426,  427. 
myron,  Ampelophagus,  149,  493. 

XXXVIII. 
mystacea,  Leptis,  LXVII. 
mystic,  Thymelicus,  144- 
Mytilaspis,  94. 

Nabid^,  98. 


Nabis,  98. 

Nacerdes,  385. 

navia,  Agelena,  36,  248. 

naj5,  Apantesis,  169,  XiLJ^X. 

nanus,  Tachys,  286. 

na/>t,  Pieris,  136. 

na/>t  oleracea,  Pieris,  XXXIV. 

Nathalis,  138,  491, 

Naucorid^e,  96. 

nebulifera,  Prionapteryx,  210. 

nebulosa,  Panorpa,  XV. 

nebulosus,  Diastrophus,  468. 

nebulosus,  Graphops,  367. 

Necrobia,  320. 

Necrophorus,  295. 

Nectar,  440. 

Necydalini,  339. 

Necydalis,  339. 

Negro-bugs,  114. 

Neidid,*:.  98,  112. 

Nematocera,  230,  231,  236. 

Nemobius,  73,  74.  437. 

Nemognatha,  391. 

Nemognathini,  391. 

nenuphar,     Conoirachelus,     402, 

LXXXVI. 
Neoascia,  255. 
Neoclytus,  348,  349. 
N eoconocephalus,  72. 
Neolarra,  521. 
neoniger,  Lasius.  422. 
Neonympha,  128,  488. 
Neopasites.  444,  520. 
Neoteitix,  68. 
Nepa,  100. 

nephele,  Satyrus,  130,  XXXII. 
Nepid^,  96,  100. 
Nerthra,  95. 
nervosa,  Chalepus,3T 5. 
nessus,  Amphion,  147,  493. 
NETHRIDiE,  95- 
Neurigona,  252. 
NEUROPTERA,  2.  52.  S3.  478. 

479.  482. 
Neuroterus,  457,  462,  464. 
Neurotoma,  410. 
Nicagus,  324,  326. 
nicippe,  Terias,  138,  491. 
wtger   americanus,    Lasius,    421, 

LXXXIX. 
niger,  Chrysops.  LXV. 
niger,  Diastrophus,  468. 
niger,  Lasius,  90. 
niger,  Meloe,  390. 
Mjger  neoniger,  Lasius,  422. 
nigricana,  Laspeyresia,  219. 
nigricollis,  Elater,  309,  LXXVII. 
nigricornis,  Hcemonia,  364. 
nigripes,  Attelabus,  399- 
nigripes,  Cassida,  377. 
nigrofasciatum ,  Eulecanium,  93.  ' 
nigrovittatus,  Tahanus,  LXVI. 
nigrum,  Dorcaschema,  354. 
niphon,  Thecla,  132. 
nisella,  Eucosma,  218. 
nitela,  Papaipema,  176,  LII. 
NiTELiD^,  430. 
nitens,  Leptura,  351. 


548 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


nitida,  Allorhina,  334,  LXXXI. 
nitida,  Megarhyssa,  414- 
nitidalis,  Diaphania,  209. 
NiTiDULiD^.  304.  505. 
nitidus,  Xylotrechus,  347- 
Nits,  229. 

niveipila,  Cecidomyia,  462. 
nobilis,  Calloides,  347- 
noctilucus,  Pyrophorus,  308, 
Noctua,  172. 
NocTUiD/E,  172. 
Nodonoia,  368. 
nodulosa,  Lasioptera,  468. 
nodulus,  Rhabdophaga,  458. 
nodus,  Euura,  458. 
Nomada,  442,  445.  5i2.  5io- 
NOMADID^,  440,  442.  512,  Sio, 

521. 

Nomia,  441,  517. 
Nomotettix,  68. 
Northern  Metalmark,  130. 
Nortonia,  429. 
nortoni,  Megarhyssa,  414- 
No-see-ums,  241. 
notata,  Galerucella,  37 1- 
notatum,  Dianthidium,  XCIII. 
nofa/M5,  Monohammus,  354. 
notatus,  Stenosphenus,  34i- 
Notched-wing  Geometer,  190. 
Notidobia,  57. 

NOTODONTID>E,  1 84. 

Notoglossa,  434- 
Notogonidea,  437- 
Notonecta,  102. 

NOTONECTIDiE,  96,  99.  100- 

Notoxus,  386. 

Notozus,  425. 

Notum,  8. 

notulata,  Galerucella,  37i- 

novcB-anglice,  Halictoides,  520, 

noveboracensis,  Ithycerus,  396- 

noveboyacen5«,       Silpha,       290, 

LXXV. 
Hovem-notata  ,Coccinella,'LX'KY . 
noxiosus,  Neuroterus,  464. 
nubila,  Hoplosia,  359. 
nubilis,  Euparthenos,  182,  LiV. 
nubilalis,  Pyrausta,  497- 
nucicola,  Caryomyia,  460. 
numitor,       Ancyloxypha,       I44. 

XXXVII. 
Nut  Weevil,  400.  ^^tv 

nuttalli,  Trichodes.  320,  LX-XiJ^ 
nycteis,  Phyciodes,  119.  XXIX. 
Nycteribiid^,  279. 
Nyctobates.  382. 
nymphcea,  Galerucella,  371. 

NYMPHALID.E,  I16,  13O,  486. 
NYMPHALINiE,  117- 

Nymph  (young  insect),  40. 
Nymphs,  128. 
Nytnphula,  209. 
Nymphulin-e,  209 
Ny55on,  433- 
Nyssonid^e,  433- 

Oberea,  361.  362. 
o6e50,  Rhagovelia,  103. 


obesa,  Volucella,  256. 
obfuscana,  Eucosma,  219. 
obliqua,  Saperda,  360. 
obliquata,  Penthe,  385. 
obliquistrigella,  Recurvaria,  221. 
obliterans,  Nytnphula,  209. 
oblongifolia,   Amblycorypha,   72, 

XIX. 
Obriini,  340. 
Obrium,  340. 
obscuriocostella,       Phyllonoryter , 

225. 
obscurus,  Nicagus,  326,  LXXIX. 
o6scMrM5,  Tenebrio,  382, 

LXXXIV. 
obsoleia,  Heliothis,  178. 
obsoleta,  Lina,  369. 
obsoletus,  Acanthocinus.  356. 
obtectus,  BrMc/iM5, 379.LXXXI  V» 
obtusatus,  Hydrocharis,  294. 
obtusus,  Balaninus,  401. 
o6/M5MS,  7^5,  304. 
occidentalis,  Mutilla,  XC. 
occidentalis,  Pachysphinx,  iSO- 
Occiput,  449. 
ocellana,  Spilonota,  219. 
ocellaris,  Cecidomyia,  466. 
ocellata,  Oberea,  361. 
ocellatus,  Anacrabro,  435- 
Ocellus,  8. 

OCHTERIDyE,  95. 

Ochterus,  95. 

octomaculata,  Alypia,  170,  L. 
octomaculata,  Perdita,  XCIII. 
octopunctata,Mordella,\j'K.'K'XlV  . 

Ociotoma,ziS- 

oculata.  Goes,  354- 

oculatus,  Alaus,  308,  LXXVII. 

oculatus,  Gelastocoris,  XXV. 

ODONATA,  2,  42.  478,  480. 

Odontata,  375. 

OdontcBus,  329. 

Odontomyia,  247. 

odora,  Erebus,  182,  LIV. 

Odynerus,  429. 

CEcanthus,  74,  XIX. 

CEciacus,  106. 

CEcoPHORiD^,  221. 

CEdaspis,  457.  472. 

CEdemerid^,  380,385. 

(Edionychis,  372. 

CEoiPODINiE,  69. 

CEsTRiD^,  258,  259- 

CEstrus,  260. 

Oiketicus,  199. 

Oil-beetles,  390- 

Okanagana,  84. 

Old-fashioned  Potato-beetle,  304. 

392. 
oleracea,  Pieris  napi,  XXXIV. 
Olethreutes,  218. 
OlethreutiN/E,  215. 
Olfersia,  279. 
Oligoirophus,  457- 
Omalus,  425. 
Ommatidium,  8. 
Omophron,  286. 
Omosita,  305. 


549 


ENTOMOLOQICAL  INDEX. 


Omus,  282. 
Oncideres,  353. 
Onciderini,  353. 
Ovcopeltus,  112. 
Onion-maggot,  Imported,  263. 
Onion-thrips,  79. 
Onthophagus,  328. 
opalescens,  Sanninoidea,  207. 
operculella,  Phthorimaa,  221. 
Ophion,  412. 
Ophyra,  263,  265. 
Opsebius,  248. 
Orange-dog,  138. 
Orange-tip,  Falcate,  137. 
orbicollis,  Necrophorus,  295. 
orbitalis,  Euura,  458. 
Orchelimum,  72. 
Order,  s,  476  (Key). 
orientalis,  Blatta,  64,  XVI. 
Orizaba,  Rothschildia,  154. 
on-fly,  52. 

ornata,  Celithemis,  50,  XII. 
ornatus,  Acrydium,  66,  XVIII. 
ornatrix,  Utetheisa,  166. 
Orneodes,  215. 
Orneodid^e,  215. 
Or  nix,  225. 
Orphulella,  69. 
Orsodachna,  364. 
Ortalidid^,  263,  275. 
ORTHOPTERA.    2,    62,    479. 

482. 
Orthorrhapha,  230. 
Orthosoma,  338. 
Oryssid^,  410. 
OrywM^.  410, 

oryza,  Calandra,  404,  LXXXVI. 
Osmia,  446,  519. 
OsMiiN/E,  519. 
Osmoderma,  335. 
ostensackenella,       Phyllonoryter, 

225. 
ostrecsformis,  Aspidiotus,  XXIV. 
05/ryffi,  Coleophora,  222, 
ostryafoliella,  Coptodisca,  223. 
osiryafoliella,  Phyllonoryter,  225. 
ostrycefoliella,  Stigmella,  224. 
ostryarella,  Phyllonoryter,  225. 
Othinid.*:,  505. 

Otiorhynchin^,  393,  398,  399, 
Otiorhynchus,  399. 
otiosana,  Eucosma,  218. 
ovatus,  Hydrophilus,  294. 
ovatus,  Otiorhynchus,  400. 
ovatus,  Pierocolus,  395. 
ovinus,  Melophagus,  279,  LXXI. 
Ovipositor,  72. 
or/^,  CEstrus,  260. 
oi'Mwi,  Euura,  458. 
Owlet-moths,  172. 
Ox-beetle,  333. 
OxYBELiD/E,  432,  434. 
Oxybelus,  434. 
Oxyptilus,  214. 
Oyster-shell  Scale,  94. 

pachycondyla,  Metopina,  253. 
P  achy  gaster,  7X1 


Pachypsylla,  86,  456,  466. 
Pachyscelus,  314. 
Pachysphinx,  150,  493,  494. 
Painted  Beauty,  124. 
Painted  Lady,  126. 
Palamedes,  Papilio,  142,  491. 
Paleacrita,  195,  196. 
palliatus,        Desmocerus,        339, 

LXXXI. 
pallide-fvlva,  Formica,  423.  424. 
pallidum,  Menopon,  78,  XXI. 
pallipes,        Agonoderus,        288, 

LXXIII. 
pallipes,  Polistes,  430. 
palmeri,  Ceresa,  484. 
Palmer-worms,  166. 
Palps.  8,  33. 

palustris,  Callirhytis,  462. 
Pamphiliid.(E,  410. 
Pamphilin.«,  142,  143,  144,  492. 
Panchlora,  64,  XIX. 
pandorus,     Pholus,      149,      493, 

XXXVIII. 
Pangonia,  248. 

panicea,  Sitodrepa,  321,  LXXIX. 
Panorpa,  56. 
Panurgid/E.  440,  442,  516,  517, 

520. 
Panurginus,  442,  521. 
Panurgus,  521. 
Paonis,  152. 
Papaipema,  176. 
Papilio,  138,  140,  141,  142,  48s. 

491. 
Papilionid/E,  116,  134. 
Papilionin^,  138,  491. 
papillatus,  Callirhytis,  462. 
Parandra,  336. 
Parandrena,  521. 
Paragus,  254. 
Paralechia,  221. 
parallelus,  Dorcus,  325 
PARASITA.  79. 
Parasitica,  2. 
Paratenodera,  65. 
Paratettix,  68. 
Paratiphia,  427. 
Parectopa,  225. 
Pareuchcetes,  169. 
Parnassius,  138. 
Parnid/E,  305.  509. 
Parnopes,  425. 
Paroxya,  71. 
parvula,  Epitrix,  374. 
/)arz;M5,  Leptostylus,  357. 
Pasimachus,  285,  286. 
PASSALiDiE,  326. 
Passalcecus,  434. 
Passalus,  325,  326. 
patibulatus,  Psilopodinus,  LXVI. 
Pea  Weevil,  379. 
Peach-tree  Borer,  207. 
Peacock  Flies,  275. 
Pear  Midge,  242. 
Pear  Psylla.  86. 
Pearly  Eye,  128. 
Pecan  Weevil,  401. 
Pectinate,  504. 


550 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


pectinicornis,  Cladius,  410. 

Peddlers,  376. 

Pedicel,  407. 

Pediculus,  79,  483. 

Pegomyia,  263. 

Pepsis,  4,  8. 

Pelecinid^,  407,  415. 

Pelecinus,  415. 

Pelecocera,  253. 

Pelecotoma,  381. 

Pelidnota,  332. 

pellex,  Dasyneura,  472. 

pellionella.  Tinea,  226,  LXII. 

Pelocoris,  96. 

Pemphigus,  456,  458,  466. 

Pemphredon,  434. 

Pemphredonin^,  434- 

penetrans,  Dermatophilus,  279. 

penitalis,  Pyrausta,  209. 

pennipes,        Trichopoda,        262, 

LXVIII. 
pennsylvanica,  Epicaula,  392. 
pennsylvanica,  Nyctobates,  382. 
pennsylvanica,      Photuris,      317. 

LXXVIII. 
Pennsylvanicum,  Atnmobia,  439. 
pennsylvanicus,     Bombus,     451, 

452,  XCIV. 
Pennsylvatiicus,         Camponstus, 

LXXXIX. 
pennsylvanicus,   Chauliognathus, 

317.  LXXVIII. 
pennsylvanicus,  Harpalus,  288. 
Pentaria,  386. 
Pentatomid^e,  98,  H3. 

PENTATOMINiE,   II4. 

Penthe,  385. 

Pepsis,  428. 

Perdita,  442,  512,  520. 

Perditella,  520. 

Peridroma,  172. 

Periplaneta,  64. 

periscelidactylus,  Oxyptilus,  214, 

LXI. 
Perithemis,  48. 
Perlid.«,  so. 
perniciosus,       Aspidiotus,       93 1 

XXIV. 
Peronea,  219. 

perplexus,  Bombus,  450,  452. 
Persicoides,  Caryomyia,  460. 
personatus,        Reduvius,        107, 

XXV. 
Petiole,  407. 

Petiolicola,  Andricus,  462. 
Petiolicola,  Asteromyia,  470. 
phaeton,      Melitcea,      119,      487, 

XXIX. 
Phalacrid^e,  297. 
Phanceus,  329. 
Phantom  Larva,  241. 
pharaonis,     Monomorium,     420, 

LXXXIX. 
Phasmid^,  6s,  482. 
Pheidole,  420. 
Phenacoccus,  92. 
Phengodes.  317.  LXXVIII. 
philadelphica,  Calligrapha,  370. 


philadelphica,  Sapromyza 

LXVIII. 
Philanthid/E,  432,  43S. 
Philanthus,  43s,  436. 
philenor,      Papilio,      141,      491, 

XXXVI. 
Phileremulus,  512. 
Phileremus,  S21. 
philodice,      Colias,       137,       491, 

XXXV. 
Philosamia,  153,  495. 
Phlegethontius.  150,  152,  493. 
Phobetron,  200. 

phocion,  Neonympha,  128,  488. 
Pholisora,  144,  492. 
Pholus,  149,  493. 
pholus,  Ampelophagus,  149,  494. 
pholus,         Lycomorpha,         164, 

XLVIII. 
Phorbia,  263. 
Phorid^,  233.  253. 
Phormia,  268,  273. 
Photinus,  314,  316. 
Photogenic  plate,  314. 
Photuris,  316,  317. 
Phryganea,  57. 
PhryganeiD/E,  60. 
Phthinolophus,  219. 
Phthirius,  79. 
Phthorimcea,  221. 
Phyciodes,  119,  120,  486. 
Phycitin^,  212. 
phylceus,  Hylephila,  144, 

XXXVII. 
Phyllocnistis,  226. 
Phyllocoptes,  456,  466. 
Phyllodecta,  368. 
Phyllonoryter,  224. 
Phyllophaga,  330,  331,  415,  427, 

LXXX. 
Phyllotreta,  372,  373- 
Phylloxera,  88,  4s6,  460,  470. 
Phymata,  no. 
Phymatid^,  9S.  97.  no. 
Phymatodes,  342. 
Physocephala,  257. 
Physocnemum,  342. 
Physonota,  377. 
Phytoeciini,  3S3.  361. 
Phyton,  340. 
Phytonomus,  400. 
Phytophaga,  281,  336,  458. 
piceaella,  Recurvaria,  221. 
Piceafoliana,  Enarmonia,  219. 
piceus,  Attagenus,  302,  LXXVI. 
piceus,  Ceruchus,  326. 
piceus,  Melanactes,  309. 
picipes,  Euderces,  349. 
picipes,  Melanolestes,  107. 
picta,  Centrodera,  350. 
picta,  Mamestra,  172,  LI. 
pictipes,  Synanthedon,  208. 
pictus,  Cyllene,  346. 
pictus,  Trepobates,  104. 
Pterins,  138,  490. 
Pieris,      134,      136,      137.     I79i 

490. 
Piesma,  no. 


551 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


PiEMiN^,  no. 
Pigeon  Louse,  78. 
Pigeon  Tremex,  411. 
piger,  Andricus,  462. 
piger,  Trichius,  335, 
pilifera,  Pheidole,  420. 
pilosula.  Phylloxera,  460. 
pilosula,  Viereckella,  516. 
pilulcB,  Cincticornia,  462. 
pilumnus,  Papilio,  142. 
Pinacate,  381. 
pinaiubana,  Eulia,  220. 
Pinching  Bugs,  324. 
Pine-devil,  164. 
pinifoliella,  Paralechia,  221. 
Pinipestis,  213. 
pini-rigidcB,  Cecidomyia,  458. 
Pink  Insects,  72,  85. 
Piophila,  276,  278. 

PlOPHILAD/E,  276. 

pipiens,  Culex,  240,  LXIV. 

Pipiza,  254. 

PiPUNCULID/E,  235. 

pisorum,  Bruchus,  379, 

LXXXIV. 
pisum,  Cynips,  462. 
pisum,  Pontania,  460. 
pithecium,  Phobetrom,  200. 
Pityobius,  309. 
placidus,  Lucanus,  325. 
plagiatus,  Dolichoderus,  421. 
Plagiodera,  368. 
Plagionolus,  347. 
Plant  Galls,  455;  5ee,  aZ^o,  Plant 

Index. 
Plant-lice,  86,  87,  132. 
Plasterer,  446. 
platanana,  Ancylis,  219. 
platanella,  Stigmella,  224. 
platea,  Stigmella,  224. 
Plater  OS,  316. 
Plathemis,  48. 
Platodora,  220. 
Platycentropus,  57. 
Platycerus,  325. 
Platychirus,  255. 
Platynus,  287. 

PLATYPEZIDiE,  235. 

Platypodin^,  404. 

PLATYPSYLLIDiE,  5O7. 

PLATYPTERA,  2. 
Platypus,  404. 
P/ea,  95.  102. 
plebeius,  Hyloicus,  153. 
PLECOPTERA.  2,  50,  477.  480, 

XIII. 
PLECTOPTERA,  40,  477.  478, 

481. 
plejadellus,  Chile,  210. 
Plenoculus,  434. 
Pleura,  449. 
plexippus,  Anosia,  116,  127,  486, 

XXVII. 
plicata,  Coptocycla,  378, 
Plodia,  213. 
Ploiariola,  108. 
Plum  Curculio,  402. 
plumbea,  Rhagovelia,  103. 


Plume  Moths,  214. 

plumosa,  Tetanocera,  LXVIII. 

Plusia,  179. 

Plulella,  220. 

Pocahontas,        Atrytone,         146, 

XXXVII. 
pocularis,  Prionus,  338. 
poculum,  Cecidomyia,  462. 
Podabrus,  317. 
Podapion,  396. 
Podisus,  114. 
Podops,  114. 
Pcecilocapsus,  105. 
Pogonocherini,  353,  358. 
Pogonocherus,  359. 
Poison  bait,  172. 
Polistes,  144,  204,  429,  430,  SI  I, 

XCI. 
polisiiformis,    Memythrus,    204, 

LX. 
polita,  Dryophanta,  462. 
Polita,  Alesogramma,  255. 
Polita,  CEdaspis,  472. 
polita,  Parandra,  336. 
Pollenia,  265,  267,  271. 
Polybia,  429. 
Polycentropus,  58. 
Polychrosis,  215,  218. 
Polyclasis,  316. 
polydamas,  Papilio,  142. 
Polyergus,  417,  424. 
polygoni,  Gaslroidea,  368. 
Polyphemus,     Telea,     158,     496, 

XLIV. 

POLYMORPHA,  280,  292. 
POLYSTOMID^,  395- 
polyturator,        Pelecinus,        415, 

LXXXVIII. 
polyxenes,     Papilio,     141,     491, 

XXXVI. 
Pomace-fly,  276. 
Pometaria,  Alsophila,  194,  LVIII. 
pomivorella,  Stigmella,  224. 
pom.onella,      Carpocapsa,       216, 

LXII. 
pomonella,       Rhagoletis,        276, 

LXXI. 
pomorum  Mytilaspis,  94. 
Pomphoptoea,  392. 
PoMPiLiD^,  428. 
pomum,  Pontania,  460. 
pomum,  Schizomyia,  470. 
Pond-skaters,  103. 
Ponera,  418. 
PoNERiN^,  418. 
Pontania,  410,  457.  460. 
Pontia,  137. 
Popillia,  510. 
Poplar-borer,  360. 
Populicaulis,  Pemphigus,  458. 
populiella,  Phyllonoryter,  225. 
populi-transversus.      Pemphigus, 

458. 
populi-vencB,  Pemphigus,  458. 
Porthetria,  188. 
portlandta,      Debis,      128,      488, 

XXXII. 
Posterior  cell,  229,  269. 


552 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


Potato  Beetle,  Colorado,  364. 
Potato    Beetle,    Old   fashioned, 

364,  392. 
Potato-stalk  Borer,  402. 
potentillce,  Gonaspis,  468. 
Potter  Wasps,  428. 
Powder-post  Beetles,  323. 
prcecelsis,  Calligrapha,  370. 
Prasocuris,  368. 
pratensis,  Lygus,  105,  XXV. 
Praying  Mantis,  64,  108. 
preciosella,  Ornix,  225. 
Predaceous  Diving  Beetles,  289. 
Prenolepis,  417,  421. 
princeps,  Epicordulia,  48,  XII. 
prinoides,  Cynips,  462. 
Prionapleryx,  210. 
Prionin^,  337.  338. 
Priononyx,  438. 
Prionoxystus,  203. 
Prionus,  338. 
proboscideiis,       Balaninus,    400, 

LXXXVI. 
procera,  Sphex,  439. 
Proctotrypid^,  415. 
prodenialis,  Melitara,  213. 
Prodoxus,  228. 

progne,  Grapta,  122,  482,  XXX. 
Proleucoptera,  226. 
promeihea,       Callosamia,       156, 

495.  XXX. 
Pronotum,  prosternum,  etc.,  8. 
Pronuba,  228. 
Prop  legs,  8. 

Prosopid^,  440,  445,  517. 
Prosopis,  445,  512. 
Prolandrena,  442,  517. 
Proteoteras,  219. 
Proteus,  Eudamus,  144,  492. 
Prothorax,  8. 
Protocalliphora,  266. 
protodice,      Pieris,      136,      490, 

XXXIV. 
Protoparce,  150,  152,  494. 
Protophormia,  268,  273. 
ProtoxcBa,  514. 
proxima,  Leptura,  351. 
'  prudens,  Trypanisma,  221. 
pruiniella,  Coleophora,  222. 
pruinifoliella,  Stigmella,  224. 
pruiniramiella.  Xylesthia,  226. 
pruinosa,       Xenoglossa,        445, 

XCIII. 
pruinosum,  Eulecanium,  93. 
Pruner,  345. 

prunivora,  Laspeyresia,  219. 
prunivorella,  Ornix,  226. 
prunus,  Amphiholips,  464. 

PSALLIDIID.5,  399. 

Psammochares,  428. 

PSAMMOCHARID^,  426,  428. 

Psammophila,  439. 

PSELAPHID^.  296. 

Pselliopus,  108. 
P5en.  434. 
PsENiD^,  432,  434. 

PSENIN.E,  434. 

Psenocerini,  352. 


Psenocerus,  352. 

pseudargiolus,  Lycana,  134,  49(X 
Pseudococcus,  92. 
Pseudogalleria,  218. 
Pseudomelecta,  516. 
Pseudopanurgus,  521. 
Pseudopomala,  68. 
Pseiidopyrellia,  265,  267,  272. 
Pseudoscorpion,  32. 
Psilocephala,  249. 
Psilopodinus,  250. 
Psilotreta,  57. 
Psinidia,  70. 
Psithyrus,  448,  449. 
PsociDiE,  76. 

PSYCHIDiE,   198. 
PSYCHODID^,  232,  236. 

Psychomorpha,  214. 
Psylla,  86. 

psylloides,  Gihhiiim,  322. 
Pterocolin^,  395. 
Pterocolus,  395. 
pterodontinus,  Opsebius,  248. 
Pteromalus,  415. 
Pteronidea,  410. 

PxEROPHORIDiE,  2I4. 

Pierophylla,  72. 
Pterostichus,  287. 
Ptilinum,  230. 
Ptinid^,  320. 
Ptinus,  321. 
pubera,  Leptura,  3S2. 
pubescens,  Chrysotoxum,  254. 
pulchella,  Libellula,  48,  X. 
pulchra,  Andricus,  464. 
pulchra.  Goes,  355- 
Pulex,  279. 

pulicaria,  Chcetocnema,  374. 
PuLiciD^,  279. 
pulsatoria,  Atropos,  78. 
pulverulenta.  Goes,  3S5» 
Pulvinaria,  92. 

pulvipenneUa.  Agnopteryx,  221. 
punctata,  Pelidnota,  332,LXXX. 
punctata,  Hypera,  400, 
punctatus,  Callirhytis,  464. 
punctatus,  Liopus,  358. 
punciicollis.  Saperda,  359. 
punctiventris,  Myrmica,  421. 
punctulata,  Cicindela,  282. 
punctulata,  Dicerca,  313. 
Punkies,  241. 
Pupa,  6. 
Puparium,  230, 
puparum,  Pteromalus,  415. 
PUPIPARA,  231,  279,  480. 
Purple,  Banded,  127. 
Purple,  Red-spotted,  126. 
purpurata,  Coptocycla,  377. 
purpureus,  Pachyscelus,  314. 
Purpuricenus,  346. 
pusilla,  Spilomena,  434. 
pustulatus,  Necrophorus,  295. 
pygmcea,  Erythraspides,  410. 
pygmcBUS,  Cephus,  410. 
pygmcetis,  Cyrtinus,  352. 
pylades,  Thorybes,  144,  492. 
Pyractomena,  316. 


553 


ENTOMOLOQICAL  INDEX. 


Pyralid;e.  208. 
pyralin.e,  210 
Pyralis,  210. 

Pyrameis,  124,  126,  487,  488. 
Pyrausla,  209,  497. 
Pyraustin/E,  208. 
Pyrgola,  275. 
pyricola,  Psylla,  86. 
pyricolana,  Enarmonia,  219. 
pyrina,  Zeuzera,  202,  LX. 
pyrivora,  Contarinia,  242. 
PyrochroiD/E,  381,  386. 
Pyromorphid^,  202. 
PyrophcETia,  255. 
Pyrophorus,  308. 
Pyropyga,  316. 
Pyrota,  392. 

PyRRHOCORID^,  98,   III. 

pyrrhos,  Corymbites,  300. 
Pythid^,  380,  385. 

quadridens,  Monobia,  XC. 
quadrifasciata,  Bicyrtes,  438. 
quadrigeminata,  Eburia,  344. 
quadrigibbus,  Acanthoderes,  355 
quadrigibbus,  Tachypterus,  401. 
qiiadriguiiatus,  Ips,  304. 
quadrimaculatum,       Bembidium, 

286. 
quadrimaculatus,  Anopheles,  2^8, 

LXIV. 
quadrimaculatus,     Collops,     -^iS, 

LXXIX. 
quadrimaculatus,      Heterachthes, 

344- 
quadrimaculatus,        Xylotrechus, 

347. 
quadripes,  Phyllocoptes,  466. 
quadripunctella,  Ornix,  226. 
quadripustulata,       Brochymena, 

114. 
quadrt-sptnosus,  Scolytus,  405. 
Queen,  The,  116. 
querci,  Lepturges,  358. 
querciella,  Coleophora,  222. 
quercitella,  Tischeria,  226. 
quercus,  Platycerus,  325. 
quercus.  Phylloxera,  88, 
Question  Mark,  120. 
quindecim- punctata,  Anatis, 

LXXV. 
quinque-cincta,  Elis,  XC. 
guinque-maculatus,     Phlegethon- 
tius,  150. 

radiatus,  Agapostemon,  XCIV. 

radicum,  Anthomyia,  263. 

radicum,  Diastrophus,  468. 

radicum,  Pipiza,  254. 

radicum,  Rhodites,  468. 

Radish-worm,  263. 

Ranaira,  100. 

rapcB,  Ceutorhyncus,  402. 

yai>«.  Pieris,  134,  136,  179,  490, 

XXXIV. 
Raphidia,  478. 
RAPHIDIOIDEA.  478.  482. 
Raspberry  Root-borer,  206. 


Raspberry  Saw-fly,  410. 

Rat-flea,  279. 

Rat-tailed  Maggot,  257. 

Rat-tails,  278. 

ratzeburgiana,  Enarmonia,  215 

rectangularis,  Lestes,  IX. 

rectus,  Belaninus,  401. 

Recurrent  veins,  406. 

Recurvaria,  221. 

Red  Admiral,  124. 

Red-bugs,  iii. 

Red-necked  Cane-borer,  312. 

Reduviid^,  97,  107,  108. 

Reduviolus,  98. 

Reduvius,  107. 

regalis,     Citheronia,     162,     496. 

XLVI.  ^     • 

regina,  Phormia,  268,  273,LXIX. 
relicta,  Catocala,  180,  181,  LIII. 
religiosa.  Mantis,  65. 
remigis,  Aquarius,  104. 
remigis,  Gerris.  103,  XXV. 
repanda,  Cicindela,  282. 
resinicola,  Retinodiplosis,  458. 
reticulntum,       Calopteron.      ^le, 

LXXVITI.  "^  ^' 

Retinodiplosis,  457,  458. 
Rhabdophaga,  457,  458, 
Rhagium,  350. 
Rhagoletis,  276. 
Rhagovelia,  103. 
Rhingia,  255. 
Rhinoceros  Beetle,  333. 

RHINOMACERINiE,  396. 

Rhinopsis,  433. 
Rhipicerid^,  306,  509. 
Rhipiphorid^.  381,  393. 
Rhipiphorus,  393. 
Rhizophagus,  505. 
rhoda,  Calligrapha,  370. 
Rhodites,  457,  468. 
Rhodobcenus,  403. 
rhodoides.  Rhabdophaga,  458. 
rAots.    Attelabus,        398,        ^00. 

LXXXVI. 
rhois.  Pemphigus,  466. 
Rhopalocera,  IIS,  116. 
Rhopalomyia,  457,  472. 
Rhopalophora,  341. 
Rhopalophorini,  341. 
Rhopclopus,  342. 
Rhopobota,  219. 
Rhyacionia,  218. 
Rhyacophilid^,  60. 
Rhynchagrotis,  172. 
Rhynchites,  396. 
Rhynchitin^,  396. 
Rhynchophora,  281,  379,  393, 

SOD,  506. 
Rhynchophorid^,  403. 
Rhynchophorus,  403. 
RHYPHIDyE,  231. 

Rhyssodid^,  299,  300. 
ribearia.       Cvmatophora,       195, 

LVIII.    ' 
ribesi,  Pteronidea,  410. 

LXXXVII. 
Rice  Weevil,  404. 


554 


ENTOMOLOQICAL  INDEX. 


rigidce,  Phytophaga,  458. 
riparia,  Argiope,  36. 
Roaches,  62,  479,  482. 
Robber  Flies,  250. 
Robertsonella,  520. 
robinicB,  Cyllene,  346,  LXXXI. 
robinice,  Prionoxystus,  203. 
robinice,  Spermophagus,  379. 
robiniella,  Agnopteryx,  221. 
robiniella,  Recurvaria,  221. 
Rocky  Mt.  Locust,  66. 
Rocky  Mt.  Spotted  Fever,  476. 
Romalea,  71. 
Romaleum,  344. 
rosce,  Asteromyia,  472. 
ro5«,  Rhodites,  468. 
roscBfoliella,  Stigmella,  224. 
rosana,  Archips,  219,  LXII. 
Rose  Beetles,  331. 
roseosuffusella,  Aristotelia,  221. 
Rothschildia,  154. 
rotulaia,  Galerucella,  371. 
rotundicollis,  Telephorus,  317. 
Round-headed  Apple-borer,  359- 
Round-headed  Borers,  337. 
Rove  Beetles,  297. 
rudis,  Pollenia,  267,  271. 
rwft/,  Monophadnoides,  410. 
rubicunda,      Dryocampa,      162, 

406,  XLV. 
rubifoliella,  Stigmella,  224. 
rubivora,  Phorbia,  263. 
rttftra,  Chalepus.  375.  LXXXIII. 
rubra,  Samia,  156. 
rubrica,  Leptura,  351. 
rubricollis,  Elater,  309. 
rubrifasciella,  Acrobasis,  213. 
rubrocinctum,  Trypoxlon,  436. 
Ruby-spot,  44. 
Ruby  Wasps,  424. 
rMdt5  Pollenia,  265,  271,  LXIX. 
rw/c,  Formica,  184. 
rufibarbus,  Erax,  LXVII. 
ruficollis,  Agrilus,  312. 
ruficollis,  Necrobia,  320. 
ruficollis,  Oberea,  362. 
rufipes,  Crepidodera,  374. 
rufipes,  Necrobia,  320,  LXXIX. 
rufocinctus,  Bombus,  449, 
rufosanguinea,  Galerucella,  371. 
rufoscutellatus,  Limnoporus,  104. 
rufulum,  Romaleum,  344. 
rugifrons,  Cicindela,  282, 
rugulosus,         Scolytus,  405, 

LXXXVI. 
ruricola,  Clytanthus,  349. 
ruscarius,  Elaphrus,  285. 
rustica,  Phlegethontius,  152. 
RuTELiN^,  332,  510. 

saccharella,  Phyllonoryter,  225. 
saccharina,  Lepisma,  39,  VIII. 
sacer,  Scarabceus,  328. 
Sacred  Scarab,  326. 
Saddle-back,  The,  200. 
saginella,  Stigmella,  224. 
sagittaria,      Physocephala,     257. 
LXVIII. 


sagittatus,  Xylotrechus,  347. 

Sagrini,  363.  364. 

Saissetia,  93. 

Saldid^,  97,  102. 

Saldula,  102. 

Salebria,  213. 

saliciella,  Coptodisca,  223. 

salicifoliella,  Phyllonoryter ,  225. 

salicipomonella,  Batrachedra,  223. 

salictella.  Mamara,  226. 

Salmon-fly,  50. 

Salticus,  38. 

saltitans,  Carpocapsa,  21 8. 

Salt-marsh  Caterpillar,  168. 

5awta,  154,  495. 

Sand-flies,  241. 

sanguinea,  Formica,  422,  424. 

sanguinea    rubicunda,    Formica, 

422. 
sanguinea   subintegra,    Formica, 

422. 
sanguineus,   Thaneroclerus,  320, 

LXXIX. 
sanguinicollis,  Callimoxys,  345. 
sanguinicollis,  Rhopalopus,  342. 
sanguinipennis,  Elater,  309. 
sanguinipennis,  Tricrania,  391. 
sanguinolenta,  Caryomyia,  460. 
sanguinolentus,  Ips,  304. 
sanguisuga,  Triatoma,  107. 
San  Jose  Scale,  93. 
Sanninoidea,  207. 
Saperda,  353,  359.  360. 
Saperdini,  353,  359. 
Sapromyza,  275. 
Sapyga,  426. 
Sapygid^,  426. 
saracans,  Cenopis,  219, 
Sarcophaga,  262. 

SARCOPHAGIDiE,  258,  262. 
sarracenicR,  Sarcophaga,  265. 
5as5acM5,  Erynnzs,  144,  XXXVII. 
satellitia,  Pholus,  149. 
SaturniiD/E,  153.  495- 
Saturniin^e,  158. 
SatyriN/E,  128,  488. _ 
satyriniformis,  Melittia,  204,  LX. 
Satyrodes.  128,  488. 
Satyrs,  128. 
5aiyrM5,  128,  489. 
safyrw^,  Xyloryctes,  333. 
saucia,  Peridroma,  172. 
Saw-flies,    406,    407,    408,    457, 

481,  485. 
Saw-toothed  Weevil,  300. 
5ayi,  Calosoma,  285. 
5ayi,  Necrophorus,  295. 
^ayt,  Oryssus,  410. 
5ayi,  Tibicen,  XXII. 
scabra,  Osmoderma,  335. 
scabrionodis,  Myrmica,  421. 
scalaris,  Bellamira,  350. 
scalaris,  Calligrapha,  370. 
Scale-insects,  True,  91.  m.  212, 
^       477. 

SCAPHIDIID^,  297.  507. 

scapularis,  Chalepus,  375- 

SCARAB^ID^,  326,  503,  SIC. 


555 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


scarabcBoides,  Sphaeridium,  2Q4. 

Scarabaus,  328. 

Scarce  Bordered  Straw,  178. 

Scarites,  286,  409. 

Scar  on  mandible,  399. 

Scatophaga,  252,  274. 

SCATOPHAGID^,  274. 
Sceliphron,  439. 
ScENOPINIDiE,  234,  249. 
Scenopinus,  249. 
Scent-scales,  141,  143. 
Scepsis,  164. 

schaufussi, Formica, 4.24,'L'X'XIX. 
schaufussi  incerta,  Formica,  423. 
schaumii,  Oberea,  361. 
Schistocerca,  70,  71. 
Schizomyia,  457,  470. 
Schizoneura,  88. 
Sckizura,  185. 
Sciara,  242,  457,  466. 
scintillans,         Photinus,        316, 
LXXVIII. 

5ciOMYZID/E,  275. 

Scirtetica,  70. 
sclopetaria,  Epeira,  34. 
Scolia,  427. 
ScoLiiDiE,  426,  427. 
Scolops,  85. 

ScOLYTIDiE,  252,  393,  404,  506. 
ScOLYTINiE,  404,  405. 

Scolytus,  405. 
Scorpion,  32. 
Scorpion  fly,  56,  478. 
Scrapter,  520. 
Scraptiini,  381. 
Screw-worm,  270. 
scripia,  Lina,  368. 
scrophulariee,     Anthrenus,     303, 

LXXVI. 
scrutator,    Calosoma,    285,    510, 

LXXIII. 
Scudderia,  71. 

scudderiana,  Eucosma,  219,  472. 
sculptilis,  Colymbetes,  290. 
scutellaris,  Neoclytus,  348. 
scutellatus,  Monohammus,  354. 

SCUTELLERID/E,  98. 
ScUTELLERINiE,  II4. 

Scutellum,  230,  449. 
Scutigera,  38. 
SCYDMiENIDiE,  296. 

sebastianicB,  Grapholitha,  218. 
Selenophorus,  288. 
sellatus,  Typophorus,  367. 
semicincium,     Sympetrum,     50, 

XIL 
semifasciata,  Libellula,  48,  XI. 
semif utter alis,  Euzophera,  214. 
Semi-loopers,  179. 
seminator,  Callirhytis,  464. 
senatoria,     Anisoia,     160,     162, 

496,  XLVIII. 
senicus,  Salticus,  38,  VII. 
separatus,  Bombias,  450,  451. 
SEPSiDiE,  275,  278. 
septendecim,  Tibicina,  82,  XXII. 
sepulchralis,      Citheronia,      164, 

496. 


Serica,  330. 

sericata,  Aranea,  34,  VI. 
sericata,  Lucilia,  272. 
sericeum,  Lymexylon,  324. 
sericeus,  Asilus,  LXVII. 
sericeus,  Chlanius,  288. 
Sericomyia,  255. 
Sericostomatid^,  60. 
serotincB,  Acarus,  468. 
serotincE,  Cecidomyia,  468. 
serotinella,  Gelechia,  221. 
Serphoidea,  407,  415. 
Serrate,  366,  393,  500. 
serratus,  Carabus,  284. 
serricata,  Lucilia,  268. 
serricorne,       Lasioderma,       323, 

LXXIX. 
Serricornia,  306. 
Serricorns,  280,  306. 
serripes,         Myodochus,         H2, 

XXVI. 
serrulata,  Dasyneura,  460. 
Sesia,  208. 
Sesiid^,  203. 

5e505/rz,s,  Ampeloglypier,  401. 
sessile,  Tapinoma,  421. 
Setomorpha,  226. 
sexfasciatus,  Dryobius,  344. 
sexguttata,         Cicindela,         282, 

LXXIII. 
sexguttatus,  Leptostylus,  356. 
sexta,  Phlegethontius,  150. 
Sharpshooters,  86. 
Sheep-bot,  260. 
Sheep-tick,  279. 
Shellac,  91. 
Shield-bugs,  113.  114. 
Shining  Amazon,  424. 
Shining  Slave-maker,  424. 

SlALIDID^,  52. 

Sialis,  52,  481. 
Sibine,  200. 
Sierolomorpha,  427. 
signatana,  Cydia,  219. 
signatus,  Anihonomus,  401. 
signatus,  Lepturges,  358. 
signifera,  Coptocycla,  378. 
signiferus,         Epalpus,         262, 

LXVIII. 
Silk,  33. 

Silk-moth,  Spice-bush,  156. 
Silk-worm,  Commercial,  192. 
Silk- worm.  Moths  Giant,  153. 
Silpha,  295,  296. 
SiLPHiDiE,  295.  504.  505. 
Silvanus,  300. 
Silver-fish,  39. 
Silver-spot,  Mountain,  118. 
Silvius,  247. 
similalis,  Loxostege,  209. 
similiella,  Platodora,  220. 
similis,  Aitelabus,  399. 
similis,  Calligrapha,  370. 
similis,  Callirhytis,  464. 
simson,  Spogostylum,  LXVII. 
simplex,  Autographa,  179,  LI. 
SiMULiiD^,       232,      243,       498, 

LXIII. 


556 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


Simulium,  244,  498. 

Stnea,  108. 

sinensis,  Paratenodera,  6$. 

singularis,  Andricus,  462. 

Sinoxylon,  322. 

sinuata,  Entylia,  484,  XXIII. 

SIPHONOPTERA.  2. 

SIPHUNCULATA,  78.  80,  480. 

SiRICID.E,  408,  411. 

Sitarini,  391. 

Sitaris,  390. 

Sitodrepa,  321. 

Sitotroga,  220. 

Skimmers,  46. 

Skip  Jacks,  306. 

Skippers,  142. 

Slaves,  416. 

slossoni,  Allocorhynus,  396. 

"Slug,"  410. 

Slug-moth,  Green,  200. 

Smerinthin^,  150. 

smilaciella,  Proleucopiera,  226. 

SmiliincE,  483. 

Sminthurus,  40. 

smithii,  Wyeomyia,  240. 

Smodicum,  341. 

Snake-doctors;  feeders,  42. 

Snake-flies,  478. 

Snapping  Bugs,  306. 

Snipe-flies,  248. 

Snout-butterfly,  130. 

Snout-moths,  184. 

Snowiella,  248. 

Social  Bees,  448. 

Soft  Scales,  92,  212. 

Soldier  Beetles,  317. 

Soldier  Flies,  246. 

Soldiers,  415. 

Solenopsis,  418,  420. 

Solenozopheria,  457.  470. 

solidaginella,        Gnorimoschema, 

221 
solidaginifoliella,  Tischeria,  226. 
solidaginis,  Eurosta,  472. 
soldidaginis,  Lasioptera,  472. 
solidaginis,  Rhopalomyia,  472. 
solitariella,  Ornix,  225. 
Solitary  Wasps,  432. 
sollicitans,  Aedes,  240. 
Soothsayer,  65. 
sordidus,  Encopiolophus,  70. 
Sour  Fly,  276. 

Southern  Corn  Root-worm,  371. 
Sowbug,  32. 
Span-worms,  194. 
Species,  5. 

speciosus,  Plagionotus,  347. 
speciosus,  Sphecius,  433,  XCII. 
Spermophagus,  379. 
Sphaeridiini,  294- 
Sphasridium,  294. 
SphcBTocera,  265,  275. 
Sphmrophoria,  255. 
Spharagemon,  70. 
Sphecid^,  433,  438. 
Sphecius,  433. 
Sphecodes,  440,  44i- 
Sphecodina,  148,  493, 


Sphecoidea,  408,  430,  432. 

Sphecomyia,  256. 

Sphegina,  25s. 

Sphenophorus,  403. 

Sphex,  438,  439. 

Sphindid/e,  50s.  Sio. 

Sphingid/e,  146,  202,  48s,  493 

Sphingin^,  150. 

sphinx,  146,  150,  153,  494 

Sphinx,  Hog,  149. 

Sphinx,  Modest,  150. 

Sphinx,  Purslane,  148. 

Sphinx,  Striped,  148. 

Sphinx,  Twin-spot,  150. 

Sphyracephala,  278. 

Spice-bush  Silk-moth,  156. 

Spider,  32,  no. 

Spider  Beetle,  321. 

Spider's  Bite,  107. 

S pilochalcis,  415. 

Spilomena,  434. 

Spilomyia,  256. 

Spilonota,  219. 

Spilosoma,  169. 

Spinach  Flea-beetle,  372. 

Spindid^,  324. 

Spinnerets,  33. 

spinolcE,  Bembex,  438,  XCII. 

Spinoliella,  520. 

spinosa.  Phylloxera,  460. 

spinosus,  Dectes,  357- 

spinosus,  Hamamelistes,  466. 

spinosus,  Jalysus,  112. 

Spiracle,  7,  iSO. 

Spirobolus,  38. 

Spittle-insects,  86. 

splendoriferella,  Coptodisca,  223 

Spogostylum,  249. 

Spondylid/E,  336. 

Spotted  Fever,  476. 

spretus,  Melanoplus,  66,  71. 

Spring  Azure,  134. 

Spring  Beetles,  306. 

Spring-tails,  40. 

Squamae,  229. 

squamiger.  Valgus,  335. 

Square-heads,  310. 

Squash-bug,  113.  262. 

Stable-fly,  268. 

stabulans,    Muscina,    265,    267, 

271.  LXIX. 
Stag  Beetles,  324. 
Staggers,  260. 
Stagmomantis,  65. 
Staphylinid^,    61,    297f     304t 

502. 

Statira,  384. 
Stegomyia,  240. 
Stelidid-iE,  440. 
Stelis,  446,  5 1 8. 
Stem  mother,  87. 
Stenispa,  375. 
Stenolophus,  288. 
Stenoma,  221. 
StenomatiD/E,  221. 
Stenopelmatus,  73. 
Stenoptini,  340,  345- 
Stenosphenini,  341. 


557 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


Stenosphenus,  341. 

stercoraria,  Scatophaga,  LXVIII. 

Sternum,  8. 

Stick  Insect,  65. 

Stictia,  438. 

slicticus,  Brachytarsus,  395. 

Stigma,  406. 

stigma,  Anisota,  162,  496, 

Stigmella,  224, 

Stigmus,  434. 

Stiletto  Fies,  249. 

Stilt-bug,  112. 

stitnulea,  Sibine,  200,  LIX. 

Stingless  Honey-bees,  453,  512. 

Stink-bugs,  113. 

Stizid^,  433. 

Stomoxys,  265,  266,  268. 

Stone-fly,  50,  477. 

Storm-fly,  268. 

Strangalia,  35  i. 

StratcBgus,  333- 

Stratiomyia,  247. 

Stratiomyid^,  230,  233,  246. 

Strawberry  Weevil,  401. 

Streblid^,  279. 

strenuana,  Eucosma,  218. 

STREPSIPTERA.     405,     479. 

482,  LXXXV. 
striatum,  Anobium,  322. 
striatus,  Lyctus,  323,  LXXIX. 
Striogoderma,  332. 
strigosa,  Epicauta,  392. 
strigosus,  Bitlacus,  XV. 
striola.  Plea,  102. 
Striped  Cucumber  Beetle,  371. 
strobilana,  Cynips,  464. 
strobiliscus,  Rhabdophaga,  458. 
strobiloides,  Rhabdophaga,  458. 
stygia,  Methoca,  426. 
Style,  230, 

SxYLOPiDiE,  405,  LXXXV. 
subarmatus,  Eupagonius,  358. 
Subcostal  Cell,  229. 
Subcostal  vein,  406. 
Subdiscoidal  vein,  406. 
subelliptica.  Phylloxera.  460. 
suberosus,  Trox,  LXXX. 
Subfamily,  5. 
subita,  Lyroda,  437. 
sublcevis,  Pasimachus,  285. 
sublata,  Dictyna,  34. 
Submarginal  cell,  229,  269,  406. 
Submedian  cell,  406. 
Suborder,  5. 
subspinosus,    Macrodactylus    33, 

LXXX. 
substriatus,  Scarites,  286. 
subsultans,  Spharocera,  265. 
subterraneus,  Scarites,  286. 
succinctus,  Euryophthalmus,   iii. 
SUCTORIA,  279.  480,  LXXL 
suffusana,  Eucosma,  218. 
stilcatus,  Otiorhynchus,  400. 
sulcipes,  Scolops,  85,  XXIII. 
Sulphur,  Common,  137. 
Sulphur,  Little,  138. 
supernotatus,  Psenocerus,  352. 
Supra-orbital  line,  449. 


surinamensis,  Silpha,  296. 
surinamensis,      Silvanus,      30O1 

LXXVI. 
suturalts,  Batyle,  346. 
suturalis,  Zygogramma,  369. 
Suture,  280. 
Suture,  transverse,  230. 
suturellus,  Dysdercus,  1 1 1 . 
Swallow-tails,  134,  485. 
Swallow-tail,  Giant,  138. 
Swallow-tai  1 ,  Green-clouded,  140. 
Swallow-tail,  Pipe-vine,  141. 
Swallow-tail,  Spice-bush,  140. 
Swallow- tail.  Tiger,  140. 
Sweat-bees,  441. 
sycophanla  Calosoma,  285,  510. 
sylvarum,  Lucilia,  258,  267,  272. 
sylvosus,  Carabus,  284. 
symmetricus,  Lepturges,  358. 
Symmyrmica,  418. 
Sympetrum,  50. 
Symphysa,  209. 
Synanthedon,  207,  208. 
Synchlora,  195. 
Syneta,  364. 
Syntomid^,  164. 
Syrbula,  68. 
Syritta,  255. 

Syrphid^,  90,  23s,  253. 
Syrphus,  255,  257. 
Systena,  373,  374. 
Systropus,  249. 

tabaci,  Thrips,  79. 
Tabanid^,  230,  233,  247. 
Tabanus,  247,  248. 
Tachinid^,  258,  260. 
Tachinus,  297. 
TachygoniN/E,  396. 
Tachygonus,  396. 
Tachypterus,  401. 
Tachys,  286. 
Tachysphex,  437. 
Tachytes,  437. 
Tackytrechus,  252. 
tceniata,  Systena,  374. 
tapetzella,  Trichophaga,  227. 
Tapinoma,  417,  421. 
Tarantula,  33. 
Tarantula-hawk,  428. 
Tarnished  Plant-bug,  105. 
tarquinius,    Feniseca,    132,    49a 

XXXIII. 
tarsalis,  Corymbites,  309. 
Tarsus,  8. 

taurea,  Melitoma,  444. 
taurina,  Ceresa,  484. 
Taxonomy,  5. 
Tegenaria,  38. 
Tegmina,  66. 
Tegula,  229,  408. 
Telamona,  484,  XXIII. 
Telea,  158,  496. 
Telegeusis,  318. 
Telephorin/E,  315,  317. 
Telephorus,  317. 
Telphusa,  221. 
Temnochilid,<e,  305.  502. 


558 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


Temnostoma,  256. 
tenax,  Eristalis,  256,  LXVIII. 
Tenebrio,  382. 
Tenebrioides,  305. 
Tenebrionid^,  380,  381,  384. 
Tent-caterpillar,  191,  192. 
Tent-caterpillar,  Forest,  192. 
Tenthredinid^,  410. 
Tenthredinoidea,  407.  408. 
tepidariorum,  Theridion,  34. 
Terias,  138,  491. 
Termes,  76. 

terminale,  Calopteron,  31S 
tertninalis,  Clisodon,  515. 
terminalis,  Pontania,  460. 
tenariusj      Bombus,      450.     452 

XCIV. 
terr(B.nov(B,Protophormia,26^,2'iZ' 
Terrapin-bug,  114. 
Terrapin  Scale,  93. 
terricola,  Bombus,  451,  452. 
tersa,  Theretra,  152. 
tesselata.  Goes,  355. 
tessellaris,  Halisidota,  170. 
tessellata,    Hesperia,     144,    492, 

XXXVII. 
testulana,  Cenopis,  219. 
Tetanocera,  275. 

TeTANOCERID^,  275' 

Tetrachat282. 
Tetralonia,  445.  5I5- 
Tetramorium,  418,  421. 
Tc/raonyx,  391- 
Tetraopes,  362. 
tetraophthalmus,  Tetraopes,  362, 

LXXXII. 
Tetropium,  341. 
Tetrops,  362. 
Tettigia,  84. 
Tettigidea,  68. 

TETTIGINiE,  66. 

Tettigoniid^,  71. 

Texas  Fever,  476. 

Texas  Fly.  268. 

Thalessa,  412. 

Thanaos,  143.  I44.  492. 

Thaneroclerus,  320. 

/Aaros.F/tycJodes.  1 19.487. XXIX. 

ThecesterniN/E,  398. 

Thecesternus,  398. 

Thecla,  131.  489. 

Thecodiplosis,  457.  458.  466. 

r/tciia,  484.  XXIII. 

Theretra,  152. 

THEREViDiE,  234,  249. 

Theridiid^,  34- 

Theridion,  34. 

theseusalis,  Pyrausta,  209. 

Thinophilus,  252. 

Thirteen-year  Locust,  82. 

Thistle  Butterfly,  126. 

thoas,  Papilio,  140. 

/feoc,  Chrysophanus,  133. 

Thomisid^,  36. 

thoracica,  Chrysophila,  LXVl. 

thoracica,  Dasyllis,  LXVII. 

Thorax,  7. 

Thorybes,  I44.  492. 


Thread-legged  Bugs,  108. 
Thread-waisted  Wasps,  438. 
Thrips,  79,  477.  482. 
Throscid^,  309. 
thuiella,  Argyresthia,  220. 
ihujaella,  Recurvaria,  221. 
Thymelicus,  144. 
Thyreocorin^,  98,  114. 
Thyridopteryx,  198. 
THYSANOPTERA,       2,       79. 

477,  482. 
THYSANURA,  2.39. 
thysbe,       Hemaris,       147,    493. 

XXXVIII. 
Tibia,  8. 
Tibicen,  84. 
tibicen.  Cicada,  84. 
Tibicina,  82. 
Ticks,  476,  480. 
Tiger-beetles,  281,  285,  499- 
Tiger,  Hickory,  170. 
Tiger  Moth,  166. 
tigrina.  Goes,  3  5  5- 
tilieacella,  Phyllonoryter,  225. 
Tillomorpha,  349. 
timidella,  Cydia,  219. 
Tinea,  226. 
TiNEiDiE,  223. 

TiNEOIDEA,  198. 

Tineola,  227. 

TiNGIDIDiE,  97.   110- 

Tiphia,  427- 
TiPHIIN/E,  427. 
Tipula,  236. 

TiPULID/E,  231.  236. 

tipuliformis,  Synanthedon,  207. 

Tischeria,  226. 

titillator,      Monohammus,      354. 

LXXXII. 
ft7tts,  Thecla,  132,  490. 
tityus,  Dynastes,  333- 
tityrus,     Epargyreus,    I43,    492, 

XXXVII. 
Toad-bugs,  95. 
Tobacco  Bud- worm,  178. 
Tobacco  Worms,  150. 
Tomato  Fruit-worm,  178. 
Tomato  Worms,  150. 
tomentosus,  Eupogonius,  358. 
totnentosus,  Necrophorus,  296. 
Tomoxia,  386. 
Tortoise  Beetles,  376. 
Tortoise,  Compton,  124. 
Tortoise-shell,  American,  124. 

TORTRICID/E,  215.  457- 
Tortricin^,  219- 
Toxotus,  349. 
Trachea,  7. 

Trachyderini,  34i.  345- 
trachyPygus,  Dyscinetus,  332. 
Tragidion,  346. 
tranquebarica,  Cicindela,  282. 
Trap-door  nests,  34> 
tredecim-punctatus,  Rhodobcenus, 

^      403. , 
Tree  crickets,  74- 
Tree-hoppers,  84,  483. 
Tretnex,  411,  412. 


559 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


tremulcB,  Lina,  368. 
Trepobates,  104. 
triangularis,  Disonycha,  372. 
triangularis,  Hydrophilus,  294 
Triatoma,  107. 
Tribolium,  382. 
Trichius,  335. 
Trichobaris,  402. 
Trichodes,  320. 
Trichophaga,  227. 
Trichopoda,  162. 
TRICHOPTERA,   2.   57,   228. 

477.480. 
Trichopterygid^,  297,  507. 
Irichrus,  Epicauta,  392. 
tricolor,  Psitkyrus,  449,  452. 
Tricrania,  391. 
Tridactylus,  74. 
tridentata,  Saperda,  360. 
Triepeolus,  442.  516. 
trifasciata,  Metargiope,  36 
trifurcata,  Ceroioma,  372. 
trilineata,       Lema,       364,     392, 

LXXXIII. 
triloba,  Lyroda,  437. 
trimaculata,  Plathemis,  48,  XI. 
trimaculatus,  Adirus,  410. 
trimaculella,  Eumeyrickia,  221. 
Trimerotropis,  70. 
trinotata,  Trichobaris,  402. 
tripartitana,  Eucosma,  219. 
tripartitus.  Sphinx,  152. 
tripunctata,  Oberea,  361. 
Trirhabda,  371, 
irt^/f5,  Anasa,  113,  XXVI. 
tritcBnianella,  Phyllonoryter,  225. 
tritici,  Diplosis,  242. 
triticoides,  Rhabdophaga,  458. 
Tritoxa,  275. 
Triungulin,  387. 
Trochanter,  8,  407. 
Troctes,  78.  XXI. 
Trogini,  330. 

/ro»7M5.Pa/>j7io,i40,49i,XXXVI. 
T'j'oa;.  330. 

truncicola  integra.  Form  tea,  423. 
Truxalin^,  68. 
Truxalis,  68. 
Trypanisma,  221. 
Trypetid^,  27s,  457. 
Trypoxylon,  436. 

TRYPOXYLONIDiE.  432,  436. 

tuherculata,  Galerucella,  371. 

tubicola,  Caryomyia,  460. 

tubiferella,  Phyllonoryter,  224. 

tulifera,  Cecidomyia,  466. 

tulipipifercE,  Eulecanium,  93. 

Tumble  Bugs,  328. 

tumidoscB,  Dasyneura,  472. 

tumidus,  Aulax,  470. 

turbulenta,  Hadena,  175. 

Turkey  Gnats,  243. 

turnus,  Papilio.  140,  XXXVI. 

Tussock  Moth,  170. 

Tussock  Moth,  White-marked, 
186. 

Twelve-spotted  Cucumber  Bee- 
tle, 371. 


Tyloderma,  403. 
Tylonotus,  344. 
typicum,  Calopteron,  315. 
Typocerus,  351. 
Typophorus,  367. 

uhleri,  Chorochroa,  114. 
uhleri,  Halticus,  106. 
ulmella,  Phyllonoryter,  225 
mZw*.  Lepidosaphes,  94,  XXH 
ulmicola,  Colopha,  466. 
ulmifusus.  Pemphigus,  466. 
ultramarina,  Buprestis,  313. 
ulironia,  Catocala,  181,  LIII. 
umbilicatus,  Neuroterus,  462. 
umbrosa,  Grapta,  120. 
undata,  Distenia,  239. 
undata,  Pyrgota,  275,  LXXI. 
Under-wings,  180. 
undulata,  Hydria,  195,  LVIII. 
undulata,  Notonecta,  XXV. 
undulatus,  Xylotrechus,  34S. 
unguiculata,  Lestes,  45. 
unicolor,  Astata,  437. 
unicolor,  Byturus,  303. 
unicolor,  Elaphidion,  345. 
unicolor,  Macrobasis,  391. 
unicolor,  Myrmosa,  426. 
Unicorn  Beetle,  333. 
unipuncta,  Leucania,  175.  LIT. 
univittatus,  Chrysops,  LXV. 
urbana,  Evania, 411,  LXXXVIII. 
urnaria,  Sphex,  439,  XCII. 
Ursula,  Basilarchia,  127. 
Utetheisa,  166. 

vacciniana,  Rhopobata,  219. 
vaccina,  Mineola,  212. 
vaccina,  Solenozopheria,  470. 
Vagabond,  210. 
vagabundus.  Pemphigus,  458. 
vagans,  Bombus,  450,  453. 
vagans,  Coleophora,  223. 
Valentinia,  222. 
valga,  Chionea,  236. 
Fa/gMj,  335. 
■Fawe55G,  122,  124,  487. 
vanilla,  Dione,  117,  486. 
vaporarium,        Aleyrodes,        00. 

XXIV. 
Vaporer,  186. 
z-aria.  Ephemera,  42,  VIII. 
variabilis,  Dermacentor,  476. 
variabilis,  Phymaiodes,  342. 
variatus,  Polistes,  430. 
variegatus,  Liopus,  357. 
Variety,  5. 

variolarius,  Euschistus,  XXVI. 
varius,  Phymatodes,  342. 
varivesiis,  Epilachna,  299. 
vastatrix.  Phylloxera,  88.  470. 
fa/ta,  Misumena,  36,  VII. 
VELiiDiE,  96,  103. 
velutinus,  Typocerus,  351. 
Velvet  Ants,  427. 
Venation  of  Diptera,  229. 
Venation  of  Hymenoptera,  406. 
ventralis,  Bicyrtes,  438. 


560 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


tenusla,  Pachypsylla,  466. 

venustus,  Cryplocephalus,  366. 

venustus,  Dermacentor,  476. 

verbasci,  Anthrenus,  303. 

vernce,  Rhodites,  468. 

vernalis,  Pieris,  136. 

vernata,     Paleacrita.     iQSf     196, 

LVIII. 
verruca,  Hormomyia,  460. 
verrucicola,  Cecidomyia,  470. 
»errMC05U5,  Cyrtophorus,  349. 
versicolor,    Ampelophagus,     149, 

494. 
Vertex,  230. 
verticalis,  Dytiscus,  290. 
vesiculum,  Pachypsylla,  466. 
Fc5/)o.  429.  430.  Sii. 
Vespid^,  426,  429. 
Vespoidea,  408,  425. 
Vespula,  SII. 
vestimenti,    Pediculus,    79,    483, 

XXI. 
vestita,  Saperda,  360. 
vestitus,  Eupogonius,  359. 
viburnella,  Coleophora,  223. 
vicarius,  CEciacus,  106. 
Viceroy,  127. 
vicina,  Andrena,  XCIII. 
vicina,  Pegomyia,  263. 
vidua,  Catocala,  181,  LIII. 
vidus,  Vespa,  51  !• 
Viereckella,  516. 
villosella,  Stigmella,  224. 
villosum,  Elaphidion,     34s, 

LXXXII. 
villosus,  Creophilus,  297,  LXXV, 
vinctus,  Carabus,  284,  LXXII. 
Vinegar-fly,  276. 
violecea,  Necrobia,  320. 
Violet-tip,  120. 
virescens,  Chloridea,  178. 
virginica,  Ctenucha,  164. 
virginica,  Diacrisia,  169,  XLIX. 
virginica,  Xylocopa,  447,  XCIV. 
virginiella,  Stigmella,  224. 
virginiensis,         Anisota,         160, 

496,  XLVIII. 
virginiensis,  Calephelis,  130. 
virginiensis,  Chalcophora,  313 
virginiensis,  Milesia,  LXVI. 
viridescens,  Calliphora,  267. 
virdiceneus,  Harpalus,  288. 
viridicyaneus,  Typophorus,  367. 
viridifasciata,  Chortophaga,  70. 
viridis,  Dichromorpha,  69. 
viteana,  Polychrosis,  215. 
viticola,  Cecidomyia,  470. 
viticordifoliella,  Antispila,  223. 
vitifoliella,  Phyllocnistis,  226. 
»t7j5,  Lasioptera,  470. 
pt^flia, Dtfl6ro/tca.  37 1.  LXXXIII. 
viitata,      Epicauta,      387.      392, 

LXXXV. 
vittata,  Leptura,  352. 
vittata,  Phyllotreta,  373, 

LXXXIII. 
vittatus,  Chrysops,  LXV. 
vittatus,  Dineutes,  293. 


vittiger,  Toxotus,  349^ 
Volucella,  255,  256. 
vomitoria,  Calliphora,  267,  LXX. 
vulgaris,  Fes^a,  430,  Si !• 
vulpinus,  Dermestes,  302. 
vulvivagellus,         Cr  ambus,     210, 
LXI. 

Walking  Stick,  65,  no. 
Walnut-moth,  Royal,  162. 
Wanderer,  The,  132. 
Warble-flies,  260. 
Wasp-bees,  441. 
Wasps,  406,  425,  429,  478,  510. 
Water-boatmen,  99. 
Water-prince,  48. 
Water-scavenger  Beetles,  293. 
Water-scorpions,  100. 
Water-striders,  103. 
Water-tigers,  289. 
Web,  Spider's,  34. 
Web-worm,  Fall,  168. 
Web-worm,  Garden,  209. 
Weeping  trees,  86. 
Weevils,  379. 

Western  Corn  Root-worm,  371 
Wheat-midge,  242. 
Wheel-bug,  108. 
Whirligig  Beetles,  292,  481. 
White  Ants,  76. 
White,  checkered,  136. 
White,  Common,  130. 
White,  Gray-veined,  136. 
White,  Mustard,  136. 
White-fly,  90. 
White-grubs,  172,  331. 
White-tail,  48. 
wildii,  Dorcaschema,  354. 
willcoxi,  Calosoma,  28s. 
Window  Flies,  249. 
Wire-worms,  308,  382. 
wittfeldi,  Thecla,  131. 
Wolf  Spiders.  38. 
Wood-nymph,  Common,  128. 
Wood-satyr,  Little,  128. 
Woolly  Alder-aphis,  132. 
Woolly  Apple-aphis,  88. 
Woolly  Bears,  166,  214,  497' 
Workers.  415. 
Wrigglers,  229,  238,  240. 
Wyeomyia,  240. 

Xabea,  76. 
Xanthogramma,  255. 
xanthomelcena,  Disonycha,  372. 
xanthomus,  Elater,  309. 
Xanthoma,  367. 
Xenoglossa,  44s,  5I5' 
Xtphidium,  73- 
Xtphomyrmex,  418. 

XiPHYRIDiE,  411. 
XvELIDiE,  410. 

Xylesthia,  226. 

Xylina,  172. 

Xylocopa,  447,  S12,  514. 

XVLOCOPIDiE,  447,  SI4« 

Xylophagid^,  233. 
Xylophasia,  175. 


561 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  INDEX. 


Xyloryctes,  333. 

Xylotrechus,  34  7 .  34  8 .  \ 

Yellow-bear,  169. 
Yellow  fever,  240. 
Yellow-head  of  Cranberry,  219. 
Yellow-jackets,  429,  430. 
YponomeutiD/E,  220, 
ypsilon,  Agrotis,  172,  LI. 
yuccasella,  Pronuba,  228. 

Zaitha,  99. 


Zebra,  117. 

zebratus,  Typocerus,  351, 

Zerene,  137. 

Zelhus,  429. 

Zeugophora,  364. 

Zeuzera,  202. 

zimmermanni,  Pinipestis,  213. 

zizicE,  Prosopis,  XCIII. 

Zonitis,  391. 

Zophodia,  213. 

Zygogramma,  369. 

Zygoptera,  44. 


5to 


Jl:  Selection  from  the 
Catalogue  of 

C.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS 


Complete  Catalo^uo  S«nt 
on  application 


The 
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■lliii 


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